Children as young as 10 have been offered lifts by strangers driving a dark car, sparking police to increase patrols across the borough.

More details have emerged about the incidents, recorded over the past couple of weeks.

Three girls and one boy were approached on roads in Carshalton and Wallington by the occupants of the dark coloured car from 8.30am to 6.45pm across several dates in late June and early July.

On each occasion a black man or a black woman was seen inside the car.

A 13-year-old girl was first approached on June 23 on Station Approach, in Wallington.

Four days later a different 13-year-old girl waiting at a bus stop was asked if she wanted a lift on the junction between Carshalton Road and Shorts Road, Carshalton, at some point during the morning of June 27.

A boy, also 13, was then targeted by the occupants of the dark coloured car around 6.45pm on June 29 on Holmwood Gardens, in Wallington.

Lastly a 10-year-old girl was approached at 8.45am on Stafford Road, Wallington, on July 2.

The four sites where children were approached

In each case the children declined the lifts by walking away or saying no and at no point had the people in the car tried to make physical contact with the children.

Detective chief inspector Rachael Porter said: "It is important that all such incidents are reported to police so we are in the best position to know what's happening so we can put a stop to it,"

"Police officers have increased their patrols whilst the Met Police trained operators staffing the borough's CCTV system in the control room at Sutton Police station are remaining vigilant.

"Our crime prevention advice to children is to shout 'no' or 'help' and to move away to a place of safety such as their school or to someone they know and can trust as soon as possible."

If you have any information, contact Sutton police station on 101. Or call police on 999 in an emergency.