A TEENAGE boy struck a man in the face before fleeing with his bag containing a laptop and mobile phone.

Police have appealed for help to trace the offender, who attacked his victim in the Angel Lane car park in Shaftesbury at around 2pm on Wednesday May 3.

The victim, a local man in his 30s, was carrying the bag on his shoulder when he was approached by the teenager.

The offender is described as white, of slim build, around 15 to 18 years old, between five feet three inches and five feet eight inches tall and with greasy, medium-length, untidy brown hair.

He had an ear stretcher in one of his ears and was wearing a black or navy jacket or coat with three white stripes down both arms and red panels on both sides in the lower back area as well as brown or green combat trousers.

Police Constable Dave Pearce, of North Dorset police, said: "I would ask anyone who witnessed this incident or who saw someone fitting the description running through the High Street or Bell Street in Shaftesbury around the time of this incident to please contact me."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police call police on 101 or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 55 111.