A child was robbed while fishing at Dovercourt seafront.

The 11-year-old boy was by himself on the West End beach when a man approached and robbed him.

He made off with the boy's mobile phone, penknife, fishing net and a loaf of bread.

The boy was unharmed, but police say the robber did use some violence against him in the attack just before 5pm on Sunday.

A Harwich police spokesman said: "Dovercourt beach must have been quite busy at that time on Sunday and we are hoping that someone might have seen something."

The robber ran off along the sea-wall in the direction of the holiday camp and the stolen mobile phone was later found by the fishing lake, close to where the robbery took place.

The man is described as white, of big build and between 20-30 years old. He did not have a Harwich accent.

He is thought to be about 6ft, have long side-burns and very dark brown hair which is flicked up at the front. He was wearing a dirty white jacket with blue horizontal stripes.

Contact PC Mike Florey at Harwich police on 01255 241312 with information or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111

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