Leicestershire Police has urged people to ignore an internet hoax which claims Eastern European gangs are attempting to abduct children at a supermarket. The leaflet, which is being circulated on Facebook today, claims the force has warned schools and nurseries in Ashby that child abductors are targeting the town's Tesco supermarket. The force said today it has not issued such a warning. Schools in the town have also said they were not aware of any alert. Similar leaflets have been posted on Facebook and other social media in the past making the same claims about other towns. In a statement issued this afternoon, Leicestershire Police said: "It has come to the attention of the police that leaflets are being circulated using social media claiming that children in the Ashby area are being approached in suspicious circumstances. "Further inquiries are being conducted into the claims but at this stage there is no information to suggest that this is the case. "However if anyone has information or concerns they are urged to contact the police on 101. "It is an offence to publish malicious or false information and this will be the subject of police enquiries to establish who is responsible for circulating the information."
