Police are appealing for information after a nine-year-old girl was approached by a man in Epsom.

The girl was walking with her family in the Downland Way and Upland Way area with her family on Sunday, January 8, at about 1pm when a man approached her and tried to engage her in conversation.

The man did not try to abduct the girl and left the scene in a grey or silver small hatchback or MPV style car.

Neighbourhood inspector Richard Haycock, said: “Increased patrols have been in place around the area since the incident was reported to us and we are sending letters to parents who have children in local schools but I would ask anyone who knows the man involved or who has any other information which will help with our enquiries to contact us.

“Naturally you may have concerns about this incident but I would like to reassure you we are doing everything we can to identify the man and find out what intentions he had in approaching the young girl.”

The man is described as white, about 40 to 50 years old with short grey hair, spoke with a southern accent and smelt of cigarette smoke.

He was wearing a light blue, long-sleeved shirt, a dark blue jumper which had a light blue logo on the right hand side, brown trousers and shoes, glasses and a silver ring.

Anyone with information should call Surrey Police on 101 and ask for extension 39708 quoting reference RB/12/216.