A MAN was seen pinning a child up against a fence after dragging him across the road and hitting him.

The young boy, believed to be aged between seven and eight years old, was assaulted on Amersham Court in Middlesbrough at 11am on Saturday, September 30.

Following the assault, the child was seen running down Amersham Road towards Penrith Road and the man was seen chasing after him.

The child is described as having brown hair and he was wearing a long green parka coat and white bottoms.

The man is described as being a white male, around 5 ft 10” tall with ginger hair and a beard and he was wearing a green jacket and blue jeans.

There have been no reports of a missing boy but officers are concerned for the welfare of the child.

Anyone who may have witnessed what happened or anyone with information regarding the identity of the boy or the man is asked to contact PC Inessa Harrison on the non-emergency number 101, Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800555111 or www.crimestoppers-uk.org.