A MUM has banned her kids from playing outside on their own after two men approached them in the street.
Anna Sargeant was left shaken and her son in tears after the "terrifying" incident, which she immediately reported to Staffordshire Police.
The 30-year-old said her youngest children and their six-year-old friend had been playing in front of her house in Chesterton when two men tried to speak to them.
Her eldest daughter, 12, returned from the shop and raised the alarm before Anna confronted the duo, she said.
The mum-of-six added that her "little boy was petrified" and she "felt sick and was shaking" after the incident at around 1.50pm on July 23.
Anna has decided to stop her children from going out on their own and is urging other parents to be vigilant.
She told StokeonTrentLive: "They were playing outside on the front which they do. Me and the other girl’s mum were always in and out checking up on them.
"My two older daughters went to the shops and when they came back they spotted these guys talking to the children.
"As soon as I heard one of my daughters I went running to the door. I asked them 'why are you here talking to my children? What are you doing?'.
'PETRIFYING'
"I said 'these are little kids and you shouldn't be here'. They started speaking to each other in another language.
"My son was so scared he was hiding behind a car. I tried to get out to get him. They were walking towards him as I was trying to get him.
"His step-dad ran and managed to grab the kids and bring them into the house. He also got the little girl into her house."
Anna described the men as Eastern European and said they got into a black Citroen driven by a third man, which then drove slowly past the house on Hodgkinson Street several times.
"I felt sick and was shaking. It happened so quickly," she said.
"We’d been out not long before that. I checked on them and they were playing.
"My little boy was terrified. When I got him in he broke down crying, he was petrified."
I felt sick and was shaking. It happened so quickly.
Anna added: "It's a quiet street and we have never had anything like this. For this to happen is really strange.
"It’s sad the kids can’t play out. I’d like the police to do something.
"To other parents I’d say be vigilant and make sure you’ve got a close eye on your kids.
"Mine were outside my house and I was gone for a couple of seconds and that’s how quick it happened."
Cops said they will "monitor" the situation".
A spokesperson said: "We were notified of a reported suspicious incident on Hodgkinson Street at around 2.30pm on Friday, July 23.
"Local officers have offered reassurance to those concerned and will continue to monitor the situation."
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