POLICE are reassuring residents following reports of a suspicious van and a claim that someone had been abducted in Strensall yesterday.

North Yorkshire Police said that following extensive enquiries in York linked to a report of a suspicious van and a claim that someone had been abducted in the Strensall area on Friday evening, they can reassure residents that there is nothing to be concerned about.

In a statement, the force said: "Officers have been able to establish conclusively that nobody had been forced into a van, nobody has been taken, and nobody was at risk.

“We are mindful that this has caused a great deal of concern in the local community and on social media.

"We thank people for supporting the investigation and we are pleased that we have been able to confirm without doubt that nothing untoward had occurred."

Earlier today officers had been out across the city, in response to the reports, to investigate a number of enquiries and offer reassurance.

They said: "Unfortunately, some of the calls to us are reporting information that has been widely shared on social media, which can impact upon the investigation. For this reason, please follow verified accounts, such as the North Yorkshire Police Facebook and Twitter accounts.