A WORLE father has said his daughter was ‘too scared’ to leave the house after being followed by a stranger this week on her way back from school.

Maisie Carver, aged 13, and her seven-year-old brother Moses were followed by a man in Worle High Street on February 27.

The man lifted his T-shirt and stroked his stomach before the children ran home to Mayfield Avenue. Police later took the man back to the residential home where he lives.

But Matthew Carver, aged 38, said his daughter had been left traumatised by the experience.

He said: “My son and daughter were walking back from school and a guy started following them. Every time they crossed the road he would follow them.

“He started lifting his top up and they got really scared and ran home.

“I was very angry when I heard what happened and I went out to try to look for the guy. I found him and then called the police.

“My daughter was too scared to go out again. She was petrified of going to school the next day.”

An Avon and Somerset Constabulary spokesman confirmed the man had been taken back to his residential home.

He added: “On the afternoon of February 27, we were called by someone reporting a suspicious incident in Worle High Street. A father reported that his daughter had been followed by a man who then lifted his T-shirt and rubbed his belly.

“We attended the area and spoke to the man, who was from a local residential home. He was taken home by the officers who spoke to staff about his behaviour.”

Mr Carver said he was disappointed the police did not come round to see his daughter and help put her mind at rest.