Members of the public came to the rescue of a police officer in a Suffolk town as he struggled to detain a "violent and aggressive" man.

Suffolk police have appealed for those who intervened during the altercation on Angel Hill in Bury St Edmunds on Saturday afternoon to come forward.

Officers say that without public help the officer could have been seriously injured.

A tweet from Bury St Edmunds police read: "Thank you to the brave members of the public on Angel Hill, Bury St. Edmunds this afternoon who came to the assistance of an officer struggling to detain a violent and aggressive male.

"Without your help, the officer could have been seriously injured.

"If you were one of those people who helped out on Angel Hill today, we would really like to hear from you."

The incident happened at 2.51pm on Saturday on Angel Hill in Bury St Edmunds, just outside the No. 5 restaurant.

One witness who saw the later part of the incident said: "From what I saw, a middle-aged man was shouting.

"All I saw was this guy on the ground with lots of the public on him, about six people.

"About a minute later a police van arrived. They literally ran at this guy and pulled off the public and arrested him. He looked quite distressed."

Those who were involved in the incident or know someone who was have been urged to email: CEOburystedmunds@suffolk.pnn.police.uk