Police investigating an incident involving a man and three children in Tetbury believe no offences took place.
It was initially reported as an attempted abduction by the mother of the youngsters on social media shortly it happened on Tuesday evening (22 April).
The post stated that “a white van pulled up next to my children… along Chavenage Lane and a man jumped out and tried to grab one of them”.
She added: “thankfully my children had sense to run away as fast as they could”.
The incident was not reported to the police until some time later, after many Facebook users urged the mother to do so as a matter of urgency.
However, Gloucestershire Constabulary officers have spoken to the children involved – who say the man did not interact with them in any way.
A spokesperson for the force said: “Police are making enquiries following a report relating to three children in Tetbury and a man who was driving a van last night (Tuesday 22 April).
“The children had been walking along Chavenage Lane at around 9pm when a motorist stopped their van on the road near to them.
“Officers have spoken to the children and it has since been reported that the man did not make any attempts to speak to the children or touch them.
“Enquiries are ongoing however at this stage there is nothing to suggest that any offences took place.”
Officers would like to speak to the man involved to establish more about what happened. Anyone with information is asked to complete the following online form quoting incident 476 of 22 April.
