Some parents took their children out of class this morning after a primary school warned police were searching for a man in the area.

Parents of children at Mead Primary School in Amersham Road, Harold Hill, received a text which notified them of the search this morning.

The text said the school would remain open and children would be kept inside the classrooms as a precaution.

Havering Police later tweeted “Assisting @SurreyPolice with finding a suspect in #RM3 area of #Romford. Contrary to other reports this relates to a theft matter” at 12.05pm.

One concerned mother, who didn’t want to be named, said: “I have taken my daughter home and I just spoke to another mum who has gone to collect her child.”

Malcolm Drakes, the headteacher of nearby Broadford Primary School in Faringdon Avenue, said: “It seems as though it might have been blown a bit out of proportion.

“From what we understand a man was going to be questioned by police and ran off in the general direction of Mead Primary.

“The police seem to have attended the school just to double check he wasn’t in the grounds.”

The text sent to parents, which has been forwarded to the Recorder, said a dog unit attended the school and the police were satisfied the site was safe.

The concerned mother said police officers were at the school to make sure pupils got into school safely.

A spokesman for Surrey Police said: “Surrey Police officers executed a search warrant at an address in Romford, Greater London at around 7am today.

“A man made off from the address on foot and, despite extensive local enquiries by Surrey and Metropolitan Police Service officers, he has yet to be located.

“Enquiries to trace the man are on-going.”