A MASKED man tried to grab two young children after asking them to “come with him” in a failed kidnap attempt in the street.

The two boys, six-year-old Albie and four-year-old Harry, were sitting on their bikes in the Malyons, Pitsea, when they were approached by a cyclist.

He told them to “come with me” but when they refused the man attempted to grab their hands.

The boys then ran inside screaming and in tears after the incident at 11:30am on Sunday.

Albie’s mum and Harry’s auntie, Lauren Hudson, had gone inside “for a matter of seconds” to let their dog out of the heat.

Mrs Hudson, 38, said: “They are always outside, this is the one time they were by themselves.

“When they came running inside I had no idea what they were saying.

“I was physically sick, I couldn’t stop crying. I’m absolutely shocked at what happened.

“Albie asked me on the way to school if someone was going to grab him. The boys did the right thing and ran off.”

The man was seen riding off towards Stokefelde.

He was described as black, with brown jeans and white t-shirt, wearing a red mask and black trainers.

Mrs Hudson added: “The police were all over Northlands Park, so hats to them they were really trying to find him.

“The mask covered his face.

“It’s a really little close we live on.

“We’re all friends so if one parent goes inside, usually the others come out too.

“But I’d only just gone in to take the dog upstairs.

“Albie didn’t know what to do, he was shocked and upset.”

This comes just a week after a man was stabbed to death in Northlands Park, prompting a murder investigation.

Basildon’s parks have also seen a serial flasher in recent months.

A spokesman from Essex Police, said: “We were contacted shortly after 11.30am on Sunday with reports a man on a bicycle had approached two boys in Malyons, Pitsea.

“He asked if they wanted to go with him and they ran off.

“Officers carried out a search of the area.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact us quoting incident 533 of 18 July.

“You can submit a report online at https://www.essex.police.uk or use the ‘Live Chat’ button to speak to an online operator between 7am-11pm.

“Alternatively, you can call 101.”