Officers are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward following an attempted robbery in Dorchester.

At around 8.15am on Wednesday, June 9 a nine-year-old boy was walking on Kings Road, near to the junction with Icen Way, when a man approached him and grabbed his rucksack.

During the incident, the victim was punched in the chest.

The man did not take the victim's rucksack and he ran off along Kings Road toward the junction with Prince of Wales Road.

The offender is described as white with a tanned complexion, aged between 17 and 25 years old and between five feet 10 inches and six feet tall with dark brown eyes. He was wearing blue jeans, a dark-coloured hooded top with the hood up, a black face mask and light-coloured Vans trainers.

He was also described as having a tattoo on the inside of his right wrist of a snake wrapped around a knife or blade, similar to a British Military medic insignia.

Police Constable Nicholas Lavery, of Dorchester police, said: "The victim was left feeling shaken and shocked by the incident and I am appealing to anyone who may have witnessed what happened to please get in touch.

"I would urge motorists who were travelling in the area to check their dashcams for any relevant footage to assist my enquiries.

"Finally, if you recognise the offender from the description given please contact Dorset Police."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email [email protected] or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55210091228. Alternatively, to stay 100 per cent anonymous, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or call freephone 0800 555 111.