Police are conducting inquiries after two children were approached by a man near Newcastle.

On Thursday afternoon (18 February 2016), an 11-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl were walking along Smith Street, Merewether, when they noticed a man following them.

The man followed the children for a number of minutes and, when they stopped at a property on Glebe Road, the man attempted to engage them in conversation.

When the children ignored the man, he left the location.

The matter was reported to police and officers from the Newcastle Local Area Command have now commenced inquiries into the matter.

The man is described as being of Caucasian appearance, around 40 years of age, between 170 and 180cm tall and of thin build. He was wearing a colourful trucker hat, a light blue shirt, white/grey shorts and white joggers.

Police are urging anyone with information in relation to this incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/ Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. We remind people they should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.