NEWS of an attempted abduction of a small child understandably causes concern among parents all over the Bolton borough.

A stranger took the hand of the five-year-old girl as she played with friends on a Farnworth recreation ground, just yards from her mother.

The Asian man, in his 40s to early 50s, was scared away by a quick-thinking teenager who questioned what the man was doing.

But, for her mother and for every other local parent, the horror is what might have been.

The long school holidays mean that hundreds of children are out and about on streets and in parks and playgrounds. This is especially true if the weather is good and they want to play outside.

It is always difficult for parents to be watching over children every moment, and there are bound to be odd times when they stray from view.

Sadly, as the James Bulger case so terribly demonstrated, there may always be individuals out there who could harm children.

The Farnworth case emphasises once more just how vital it is to warn children of "stranger danger." This is not just so that their own child will refuse to go anywhere willingly with someone they do not know, but also to alert other children to watch out for their friends and especially very young children.

Other youngsters are often vital in the campaign to keep children safe, and it is especially heartening to see such a responsible and positive attitude from a 16-year-old in this particular situation.

Vigilance is the important and constant message for adults and youngsters if we are to prevent any more child tragedies.