FEARS that a young girl was being abducted in South Mimms proved unfounded this afternoon (Wednesday).

Police were called and a helicopter scrambled shortly after 2pm, after a girl was reported to have been dragged off into a field.

But it turned out that it was simply a man walking with his daughter.

Hertfordshire Police were unable to specify where the incident took place, aside from saying it was at a field in South Mimms, near to junction 23 of the M25.

The police helicopter was also seen hovering over Mutton Lane, Potters Bar, at around 2.30pm.

A spokesman said: “We had reports of a suspicious incident where a man was seen dragging a girl into a field, but it was just a man walking with his daughter.

“The helicopter was called but it was already up and had previously been to a job in Bedfordshire.”