CLEVELAND Police is investigating reports of a suspicious car sighted near schools in Middlesbrough.

Officers have had reports of a small, dark vehicle in the Acklam, Tollesby and Saltersgill areas of the town in the last two or three days of last week.

"Officers continue to make enquiries however we would stress that at this stage there are varying accounts and no confirmed offences," a spokesman said.

"Our advice is that parents and carers should remind children and young people of the usual safety precautions such as not engaging with strangers or getting into an unknown car.

"To assist with enquiries, officers urge anyone with specific information as to the registration and make of any suspicious car, descriptions of its driver plus the location, date and time they saw it to contact Cleveland Police on 101."