FEARS over a possible abduction attempt in a quiet Radnorshire village has prompted the local pub to sign up to a nationwide campaign that offers refuge to young people in need.

The incident happened in Hundred House a few weeks ago, whereby a local high school pupil was approached by a young man in a car, who was described as “persistent” in his attempts to get her into his vehicle.

The incident is believed to have happened on Thursday, June 30, with the girl, described as a secondary school pupil, said to have found it a distressing experience, although she did not suffer any physical harm. The driver of the vehicle left the scene when she turned off the main A481 road passing through the village, near Builth Wells, and went into a nearby property.

The incident happened right outside the Hundred House Inn, and owners Steve and Desri Davidson have leapt into action. They have joined the Safe Places scheme – which offers potentially vulnerable young people and adults a safe place to go to within their community. If you need help or support when you are out in public, you can go to a safe place, which can be a shop, office, fire station or public building such as a library or pub.

“A few weeks ago a schoolgirl was approached by someone in a car, he was pretty persistent but she turned into someone’s house and he drove away,” said Desri.

“All parents from school were informed of this and to tell the children about stranger danger.

“We just thought, as the pub is open all day, we could help and if the children know they can go somewhere, then why not do it.

“I hope we never have to use it, but it’s there just in case.”

A post on the pub’s Facebook page on Saturday, July 9, read: “Due to an incident in Hundred House recently, we’ve decided to make the pub an official Safe Place for children in need of help.

“The ‘Safe Places’ initiative is with the full backing of the local school and police.

“Any child can enter the pub and ask for help. They will be shown to the staff lounge and be kept safe.”

Desri said posters advertising the pub as a ‘Safe Place’ will be distributed and displayed around the village, advising anyone feeling unsafe in any way to go straight to the pub, where they will be kept safe and an appropriate person will be called.

The local primary school in nearby Franksbridge sent out a message to parents, warning them of the incident and asking them to reiterate the concept of ‘stranger danger’ to their children, especially if they are slightly older and have the freedom to play without adult supervision.

Safe Places allow those who are vulnerable or organisations or individuals that want to become a safe place to join an accessible, nationwide network of support where anyone feeling intimidated, at risk or scared can take refuge.

Whether it’s just to have a conversation, call a friend, ask someone to call a cab, or even to dial 999, these are places where a friendly face is guaranteed and support will be always be provided.

In November last year, all 47 South Wales Fire and Rescue Service Stations began operating as ‘Safe Havens’ for members of the public who feel threatened, intimidated or at risk.

Launching alongside the national White Ribbon Campaign, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against women and girls, Safe Havens was a response to Sarah Everard’s murder, which sparked fresh debate about the status of women’s safety in the UK.

To find out more about the Safe Places scheme, visit https://www.safeplaces.org.uk/.