A man threatened to stab a boy in a Reading playpark in an attempt to steal his bike.

He approached the teenager while they were sat on the swings in Palmer Park and said he would attack the boy with a broken drinks can if he didn’t give him his bike.

The victim hit the suspect with his bike, causing the suspect to run off near the Pakistan Heritage Centre on London Road.

Police staff Investigator Mark Sainsbury, based at Reading police station, said: “We are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to please come forward following this robbery.

“I am particularly interested in speaking with a group of men who were playing volleyball in the park who assisted the victim after the incident.”

Police described the offender as a middle-eastern man, with dark olive skin, aged in his twenties, around 5ft 10ins tall and with brown facial hair on his chin and cheeks.

He was wearing a light grey tracksuit top with dark grey side panels, dark grey or black tracksuit bottoms and a black shoulder strap worn diagonally across his body.

You can make a report online or call 101, quoting reference number 43210460613.

Alternatively, you can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.