An incident involving an apparent stranger waving a teddy bear outside a nursery had an innocent explanation, it has emerged.

Police were called yesterday after the "suspicious man" caused alarm at Busy Bees nursery in Lockholt Close, Ashford.

But today, a police spokesman said: "Kent Police has received information that indicates there is an innocent explanation for this incident."

A reader has also contacted KentOnline to explain the man was waiting to collect a child for an appointment, and waved the bear at the child and mother as they came out of the nursery.

Jim Holditch, head teacher of Godinton Primary School which is on the same site, wrote a letter to parents and informed other schools and nurseries of the incident yesterday morning.

The alarm was raised after a member of staff reported seeing a tall, white man parked up in a white estate car near the school gates.

The man allegedly waved the bear at the staff member “as if to beckon her to him” but as she got closer she didn’t recognise him, and told her colleagues at the nursery who went out to investigate, by which time the man had driven off.

In his letter Mr Holditch said that there may be “an innocent explanation” for what happened, but asked parents to be "extra vigilant".

Officers from the public protection unit were made aware after the incident was reported to police at 11.30am yesterday morning.