SCHOOL staff have moved to warn pupils and parents after a pervert flashed a youngster as she made her way into school.

The man approached the Year Nine student as she was walking to Philip Morant School near play equipment on Boadicea Way, Colchester, and exposed himself before performing a sex act.

The youngster immediately reported the incident to members of staff at the school who have been liaising with the police. The school also alerted several other schools in the vicinity to make sure they were well aware of the situation.

School vice-principal Daniel Fox said: "We have a set of procedures which we follow when ever an incident like this is reported.

"We contact the police in the first instance and then use a system called School Watch to report it to other schools in the local area.

"Parents have been asked to talk to children about remaining vigilant on their way to and from school and trying to avoid a situation where the could end up by themselves or vulnerable.

"Tutors have also been speaking to them in the tutorial sessions this morning."

Parents have raised concerns that incident of this nature are on the rise, but Mr Fox said he did not agree it was the case.

He said: "I think students are much more well informed and tell us when things like this happen.

"The set of procedures are very clear and they are sure things will be followed up."

Mr Fox added the victim of the incident was fine and was being monitored by the school's pastoral staff.

Colchester councillor for Shrub End Lyn Barton (Lib Dem) said she would like to see more police in the area in a bid to reassure parents following the incident on Tuesday morning.

She said: "There has been a lot of anti-social behaviour in the area with things like vandalism and bikes being ridden without helmets, we have called 101 countless times but this obviously more sinister.

"Even if more police could be put in place for a short time it would help to reassure people."