Police are searching for a man and woman after reports that they tried to lure two children into a car with a puppy.

The incident, which happened at around 3.40pm on Wednesday, occurred on Fairway in the Queens Hill area, near Kestrel Avenue.

Two 11-year-olds were walking home from Taverham High School through a car park when a man and a woman in a small white car, believed to be a Fiat, asked them if they would like to stroke a dachshund puppy they had with them, and told them they could have it if they got in.

The girls then walked away, at which point the man and woman drove away in the Longwater direction.

The mother of one of the girls said: 'I thought the girls were taking longer than usual, so I texted my daughter to say 'where are you', which is when she said a man tried to get them in a car. I said 'I'm coming to meet you' and I ran down to pick them up.

'Their other friend who had crossed the road to go home heard the man say 'do you want to stroke the puppy?' There was noisy building work nearby so they asked him to repeat himself and he said something along the lines of 'get in the car and you can have it'.

'The man was in the passenger seat sitting sideways with the door open.

'They used their instincts and walked really quickly around the corner and said 'run' and called me as they were running.

'I haven't stopped shaking since to be honest. I just want to warn everyone else.

'The girls were really shaken up at first but they have been so supported by everyone.

'They did the exact right thing and I think they are proud of themselves for doing it right. You never think it's going to happen to you.

'The school actually did a safety class a few days before so it was really fresh in their minds which I think helped.'

The female, who was the driver of the car, is described as in her late 20s or early 30s, with short hair in a bob. The male is described as around 35 years old, white, wearing a black baseball cap and a dark shade of jumper.

Police duty inspector Simon Atherton said: 'We have been to see the family of the girl who reported this. We have not been able to identify the vehicle. We welcome any person with information to come forward.'