Worried mums dialled 999 after meeting the mystery sailor with his dark blue wax jacket, peaked cap and canvas bag - just like actor Martyn Reid, the TV ad Captain.

But the 58-year-old 'suspect' turned out to be a genuine market researcher, canvassing in Prestonpans, East Lothian, for a frozen food firm. The man contacted police after hearing about the scare.

Worried Siobhan Ough - mum to Nikole, 14, Liam, 12, Amyleigh, 10, and six-year-old Tejay - called policeSiobhan, 30, said: 'He had a weird accent.