POLICE have been alerted after a man wearing a pig mask was reported to be accosting children in the Barnards Green area of Malvern.

The Chase School has sent out a letter to parents warning them about the man and urging them to report any incidents to police.

The letter says: "We have been notified by several students and parents of a man acting strangely outside school yesterday. The man was wearing a full pig mask and approaching students on their way home.

"The police are aware and are dealing with this matter, they are also aware of a video circulating on social media and should you have any more concerns about this incident please contact the police in the first instance.

"A message has been sent to all staff and students to reassure them. Should you have any future concerns about members of the public please ask your children to report it to a member of staff or alternatively report it to the police through 101."

A police spokesman said: "We have received reports of a person in a mask acting suspiciously in the Barnards Green area. We are currently following a number of lines of enquiry into this."

Sergeant Christopher Day, of West Mercia Police, said: “We understand that this will be very alarming to the local community and parents of those at the school.

"However, I would like to reassure you that a thorough investigation is underway to ensure that we identify the individual involved and to establish the motivation behind their actions.

"We have also increased our patrols in the local area. Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to contact us on 101 quoting reference 422s 31119."