A MAN was arrested after allegedly approaching a young girl walking to South Farnham School, and passing her a sinister note saying she was "being watched by paedophiles".

According to a concerned parent who contacted The Herald, the girl was tapped on the shoulder by the man at around 8-30 am Monday of last week, in Waverley Lane.

The note which he handed her is believed to have read: "This is not a threat, it is a warning. You are being watched by paedophiles. I am in control but others are not."

Details of the girl involved are not being released, though she was said to be physically unharmed by the ordeal.

It is believed a witness was able to phone the school and keep the man talking until police arrived and apprehended him.

Police confirmed they had later arrested a 42-year-old man from Aldershot on suspicion of harassment. After helping them with their inquiries, he was later released on bail without charge.

Following the incident, the headmaster of South Farnham School, Andrew Carter, sent a letter to pupils warning them to be wary.

However, the parent who contacted The Herald expressed concern that other schools in the area had not, to her knowledge, been alerted to the incident.

She said: "I am not trying to scaremonger, but people should be aware if these types of incidents have taken place. I don't want to wrap young people in cotton wool."

Highlighting another incident which happened last year, in which several female pupils at a Farnham school were "flashed at" by a man on their way to lessons, she added she would now be considering giving her daughter a personal alarm.

A statement issued by the police said: "We would like to reassure the public that incidents of this nature are extremely rare.

"Although on this occasion the child was not physically harmed, this of course highlights the need for each parent or guardian to remind their child of the potential danger and how they should react."

South Farnham School said they had been closely co-operating with police but declined to comment further.