Former EastEnders star Billy Murray claims gang tried to kidnap his grandchildren

Former EastEnders star Billy Murray has claimed that a gang attempted to kidnap his grandchildren off the street in Essex.

The actor, who is also known for his role as Don Beech in The Bill, took to social media to detail the experience and to warn parents around Essex to be on the lookout for danger.

Murray said in a Facebook video: "My daughter and my two grandchildren and her partner were out yesterday in a little tiny village just round the corner from our little farm.

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"And they were just walking along and picking some wildflowers or whatever and she got kind of separated because a telephone call came for her partner and she just took it and he just stood there for a minute talking."

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

"He was eastern European. It was a black four-door Audi A6. 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."

Murray then detailed that his daughter's partner managed to prevent anything happening: "He looked over 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.

"They were going to kidnap my grandchildren, that's what they assumed anyway. And as soon as Mick, her partner, saw it he yelled and screamed at them to run and he ran over. And as he ran over, because he was across the other side of the road, they all jumped in their car and squealed off — tyres burning, everything."

Murray also urged his Facebook followers to share the message and for people to be vigilant in the Essex area.

He also revealed that the matter had been reported to the police but they are not pursuing the case as the children were not harmed.

Murray later offered an update on Twitter: "Thank you for all your comments and concern following the video I posted on Facebook. I have read and appreciate all of them.

"The video is self explanatory and I will not be making any further comment or giving any interviews. Thank you for understanding."

While best known for his roles in TV on The Bill and EastEnders, the 81-year-old actor has recently been appearing in straight-to-DVD action movies with stars such as Danny Trejo, Lee Majors and Dolph Lundgren.