A man who approached a nine-year-old girl in Flimby did not commit a crime, police have said.

The man told the girl he was to pick her up because her mother was in hospital.

It happened at about 7.20pm on Monday in Westfield View, close to the junction with Wedgwood Road.

Police found the man's innocent explanation was supported by the evidence and closed their investigation.

Sergeant Martin Hodgson said: "The child who made the report did the right thing.

"She was worried about the exchange and raised it with her mother who also did the right thing in contacting ourselves.

"This incident shows that we take such reports seriously.

"We have quickly traced the man in question and found his account to be reliable.

"We took the decision to make the public aware from an early stage whilst we were working to establish exactly what had happened due to the serious nature of the possible offence.

"We can now confirm there has been no offence."