POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a five-year-old boy was injured when an elderly man pushed him in to a hedge in Trowbridge.

The boy was walking with his grandfather along Manvers Street, near to the bus stop, on Saturday July 11 between 11.25 and 11.35am.

The grandfather has told us that an elderly couple was walking towards them, as they neared the woman said: “Excuse me.” As he went to move his grandson out of the way the man (of the couple) grabbed the boy by the neck and threw him in to the hedge.

The grandfather admits he shouted and swore at the couple, who walked away. He followed them in to the nearby car park, but was confronted by another member of the public who asked him to stop shouting at the couple.

The suspects then disappeared in to the car park. The boy suffered some neck pain and marks to his skin.

A Wiltshire Police spokesman said: “We would like to hear from anyone who may have seen or heard what happened in this area around these times.

“This is a busy part of the town, close to The Shires Shopping Centre, so we are hoping someone can help us with our enquiries.

“If you can, please call us on 101 and asked for PC Steve Drage or contact Crimestoppers, where you can leave information anonymously, on 0800 555 111.”