TV actor Bill Murray, of Eastenders and The Bill fame, has taken to social media to 'warn people' about a gang of men who he believes are looking to kidnap children.

He was speaking following an incident involving his daughter and grandchildren who were walking in Orsett, which is close to the actor's rural home.

Mr Murray says: "It's affected me personally, my daughter and my two grandchildren and her partner Mick were out at a village, just round the corner from our little farm.

"They were just walking along, the kids were picking some wild flowers and whatever and she got kind of separated because of some telephone call came from her partner and he took it and just stood there for a minute talking.

"A black Audi pulled up in front of her, blocking the way she was walking and the driver got out and she could see through the screen that there was a passenger and three other guys sat in the back. He walked up to her and he was very familiar with her, whatever, and chatting to her.

"She said he was eastern European. It was a Black Audi, four door and an A6 and they kept looking at the children.

"And she had this terrible fear all of a sudden come over her and she panicked, and she called out to Mick. he looked over to her and saw exactly what was happening because the guys in the back and the passenger were getting out of the car to approach the children.

Bill Murray

"They were going to kidnap my grandchildren.

"Well that's what they assumed anyway.

"And as soon as Mick saw it he ran over - and as he ran over they all jumped in their car and squealed off, tyres burning.

"Beware, they are out there. There's five guys in an Audi A6.

"It's been reported to the police but they said they can't do anything because they didn't touch the children but be warned.

"They're out there. It's happening in Basildon and Grays, and people are reporting it on Facebook all the time."

Nub News has contacted Essex Police whose spokesperson confirmed they were aware of Mr Murray's TikTok broadcast and the matter was being looked at. It is likely a formal statement will follow.  

The actor is best known for playing bent policeman Don Beech in The Bill from 1995 to 2004 and Johnny Allen in the BBC soap opera EastEnders from 2005 to 2006.