Detectives have launched an urgent appeal for two witnesses who may hold vital information about the attempted abduction of a baby boy.

The toddler's brave grandmother threw herself over the child's buggy to foil the would-be snatchers and had to be taken to Basildon Hospital with bruising after she was punched in the face.

Police are now desperate for any information which might help them trace the trio responsible.

The drama unfolded when the 54-year-old grandmother took the 19-month-old tot out for a walk in a pushchair shortly after 10am on Wednesday last week.

As she left her home in Sandon Road, Basildon, she noticed a black man on the road opposite.

Det Sgt Tony Buckley of Pitsea police said: "She noticed him in particular because since she has lived here she has seen so few black people.

"She made eye contact and then went about her business, pushing the child towards Luncies Road. The man walked in the same direction but she didn't feel threatened. Then he waved at someone but she couldn't see who it was.

"She turned the corner of Luncies Road and was in front of the Winged Horse pub, which has a bus stop next to it.

"The grandmother then spotted a different black man and a black woman come running towards her from Rippleside.

"The female said the baby's name then the man tried to grab the child.

"Luckily the boy was strapped into the chair and the grandmum laid across the pram to stop him being pulled out.

"She looked up and one of the men punched her full in the face at least once. The next thing she remembered was waking up in hospital, along with the child.

"She wasn't taken there by the emergency services so we want to know who took her.

"If it was a member of the public we are keen to hear from them. We also want to trace a woman who was possibly standing at the bus stop. The grandmother remembers her shouting either 'get the police' or 'here are the police'."

He added: "Luncies Road is predominantly a white area and I would expect people to remember seeing three black Africans there on a Wednesday morning."

The tot and gradmother are also black.

Set Sqt Buckley went on:"There may have been a fourth person in a car as we are unclear how they got to the area. If a taxi driver took them there from the station we would like to hear from them.

"They would have had no idea what time the woman was leaving home so the first man must have been watching the house and someone may have seen him."

Anyone with information is asked to call Det Con Gary Barber or Det Sgt Buckley on 01268 532212, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

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