The mother of a primary school pupil attacked by a knife-wielding 12-year-old has thanked the passers-by who came to his aid.

Nine-year-old Luke Wakefield,was waiting for his mother, Jackie, with his brother and a friend in St John's Wynd, Colchester, when he was assaulted.

After a brief exchange of words a 12-year-old boy punched Luke in the arm, then pulled out a craft knife and slashed his jacket.

He ran off up steps towards Sir Isaac's Walk but was grabbed by a passer-by who had witnessed the attack.

Because the 12-year-old was struggling so violently a 62-year-old man also restrained him until police arrived.

Mrs Wakefield said: "I just wanted to say thank you to the gentleman who held on to him, and to the elderly gentleman who also held on to him because he put up such a fight. Without them he would certainly have got away."

Mrs Wakefield said her son, a pupil of Home Farm Primary School, Colchester, was not injured.

"He was shaken at the time but he is OK now. There are no long-term effects," she said.

A 12-year-old Colchester boy was arrested and given a formal caution for the knife attack.

His details have been passed to the area's youth offending team.

Jackie Wakefield with her son Luke, who was attacked by a knife-wielding 12-year-old

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