POLICE are searching for a good samaritan who intervened to stop a pensioner being attacked by a gang of children in a Redbridge park.

Officers would like the woman - who called them after seeing the 67-year-old man being kicked and punched by three youngsters in Claybury Park, Clayhall - to come forward with any more information she may have about the assault.

The children, who were all described as being around 12-14 years-old launched the attack at around 1pm on Saturday after the pensioner refused to hand over his mobile phone.

They then began to throw stones at the man, who had been sitting on a bench when the boys initially approached him.

When he walked away the gang followed and began to kick and punch him - only stopping when the woman stepped in and called the police.

Two of the boys are described as white and were wearing light coloured clothes at the time of the attack, while the third youngster was Asian and was wearing a grey or white-coloured t-shirt.

Anyone with information should call PC Steve Rush on: 8345 2667.