A mother is appealing for help in tracing witnesses to an alleged attack by a group of youths on her young son.

And she praised a businessman who came to her 12-year-old son's aid.

The woman, who does not wish to be identified, said a group of 12 or more youths - all of school age - were involved in the altercation in Colchester's Upper Castle Park at about 1pm on Monday.

In an appeal to the public she said: "Do you know them? Perhaps you saw them coming into town earlier on a bus or train. Maybe they were in the town centre at some stage.

"Most school-age children were still in school and so they would have been fairly noticeable."

The boy's mother said he was punched to the ground. She added: "I thank sincerely the gentleman in the business suit who escorted my son and his friend safely from the park that day."

An Essex Police spokesman confirmed officers were looking into the incident and said one arrest had been made.

If you have any information contact PC Steve Casey or PC Mike Buckey on 01206 762212 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.