THE MOTHER of a six-year-old boy has spoken of the moment her son was dragged away in a "suspicious incident."

The 29-year-old, who does not wish to be named, has told the Daily Echo that her son was waiting for her at the end of a road when a man approached him in the Netley Abbey area and took him away.

Now she has said people need to know the truth after being "shocked to the core" by what happened.

As previously reported the incident happened on Saturday and has launched a major police investigation.

Schools in the community have written to parents informing them of the incident and advising them to closely guard their children while on the school run.

The mother-of-three said: "My son wasn't lost but the truth is very scary. He was snatched by a stranger and if he wasn't as strong as he is, he wouldn't of been able to wriggle free and I may not have him with me now."

The boy, who is a pupil at a local school, was walking home along Queen's Way after spending the day at Netley recreation ground with his mum and two sisters.

He was kicking his football along the road, running to catch it and reached the corner which joins with Moore Crescent and Sellwood Road where he waited for his family to catch up.

His mum said this is a spot near a car park and some greenery where he regularly waits because he can't cross the road and because he was a few yards away, standing round the corner she couldn't see him.

She said: "My eldest daughter who was a bit closer to him shouted that she could hear him screaming for help.

"I rushed to the corner screaming in blind panic for him but didn't hear or see anything. A few minutes later he suddenly came running up Sellwood Road shouting for me and crying.

She added: "He told me that he had been waiting for us and this man had grabbed him really tightly around the arm and started dragging him away.

"My son is quite a strong boy and loves all his sports so he was tough enough to wriggle away and run quickly.

"He is fine about it now because I don't think he understands the severity of what happened but I am a nervous wreck. I just think if there is a man out there ready to snatch a little boy people need to know the truth."

Police are now appealing for information that could help with the investigation and anyone who can help should call 101.

Alternatively if you would like to give information anonymously and in confidence then call the Crimestoppers charity on 01800 555 111.