Young children out on their own have been offered a lift by strangers driving a dark car four times in the past 11 days, sparking police to increase patrols across the borough.

The children, aged between 10 and 13, were approached by the occupants of the car from 8.30am to 6.45pm in Carshalton and Wallington and on each occasion a black man or a black woman was seen inside the car.

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.