Police are appealing for witnesses after a man approached a young boy in a Moray village.
The youngster was in the Glebe Road area of Mosstodloch when the man, driving a light silver hatchback or saloon car, sidled up to him and struck up conversation.
Following the incident the boy returned to school and told his teachers about what had happened, and they later alerted the police.
Officers say it is “unclear” whether the man made any untoward comments to the Mosstodloch Primary School pupil, and are looking for witnesses to help piece together what happened.
After approaching the boy on Glebe Road at 1.25pm on Wednesday the man drove east in the direction of Stynie Road.
Police hope the driver could be traceable due to the fact that he was transporting logs in a trailer affixed to the back of his car.
Constable Mairi Page urged the man to get in touch with police so that any wrongdoing could be ruled out.
She added: “We would like to trace the driver of the car so that we can establish the circumstances of his conversation with
the boy.
“We are appealing to the driver to get in touch, and it could be that we are able to rule anything untoward out.”
Fochabers Lhanbryde councillor Sean Morton said it was inevitable that the incident would cause concern – but advised residents to keep an open mind until police investigations had concluded.
Mr Morton said: “Mosstodloch is a safe community because people look out for each other, and for each other’s kids.
“This sort of thing is bound to cause concern as it is unusual for the village.
“But this could have been a perfectly innocent conversation – and let’s hope it was.
“If anyone knows anything about it then I hope they’ll come forward so people’s minds can be put at ease.”
Anyone who was in the Glebe Road area at the time and thinks they might have witnessed the incident should call 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.