Witness appeal after man tries to grab schoolboy

The incident happened close to the junction with Dorset Avenue in Great Baddow, police said

Police have appealed for information after a schoolboy was approached by a man who attempted to grab him.

The boy, understood to be aged 11, was walking along Chelmerton Avenue in Great Baddow, Chelmsford, Essex, at about 08:20 GMT on 5 December when a man in his 40s tried to grab him by the arms.

Officers are also keen to trace a woman who appeared to have witnessed the incident and intervened, with the man making off.

The man is described as 6ft (1.82m) tall, bald - but with a brown beard in a pony tail, and a tattoo on his right cheek.

He was wearing a grey Nike jumper, a blue zip-up coat with a fur hood - and black and red Nike Air Jordan trainers, Essex Police said.