A MAN pretending to be a police officer tried to bundle an 11-year-old boy into his car in Bramford.The boy was with his friend walking along Bramford Road, outside The Gables, at about 2.

A MAN pretending to be a police officer tried to bundle an 11-year-old boy into his car in Bramford.

The boy was with his friend walking along Bramford Road, outside The Gables, at about 2.45pm yesterday when a car pulled up beside them.

The two male occupants of a red Ford Escort with alloy wheels started talking to the boys and told them they were police officers. The driver of the car then got out and grabbed one of the boys by the arm pulling him towards the car.

The driver of the Escort is believed to be in his early 20s, of slim build and with short red/ginger hair. He was wearing combat trousers.

His passenger, also in his late 20s, was of heavy build and was wearing a dark baseball cap back to front.

Detective Constable Petrina Webb, said: "This was a particularly distressing incident for the two boys concerned.

"We would like to appeal to anyone who may have witnessed the incident or spotted the car in the town during the day to contact us as soon as possible on 01473 383413 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

"I would like to stress that it is not normal police policy to approach youngsters in the street in this manner. If we were to talk to any individual in the street we would be in uniform and we always carry and show photographic identification.

"I would recommend that if anyone becomes suspicious of an individual who has approached them under the guise of being a police officer they should contact police on the above number or dial 999."

Police investigating this incident are not currently linking it to a similar incident in Donegal Road where a man tried to grab a 13-year-old girl on Friday at 5pm.

In a separate unrelated incident a teenage boy was taken to hospital after he was assaulted in an Ipswich park.

The 16-year-old was punched in the face and suffered bruising to his cheek and a black eye.

The attack took place in Holywells Park yesterday at around 5.15pm.

The youth was with friends prior to the attack when a group of older lads came towards him and one of them then punched him. He was later taken to Ipswich Hospital by ambulance.

The attacker is described as black, about 20-years-old, of large build and approximately 6ft 3ins.

Anyone with information relating to this incident should call Pc Robert Lemare at Ipswich police station on 01473 613500.