A young Ipswich mum was punched in the face in front of her child by a man who stole her handbag near a block of flats.

The woman, in her 20s, needed hospital treatment after the robbery in Wherstead Road at around 5pm on Friday.

The man tried to grab her handbag from her shoulder as she entered a communal area of a block of flats with her young child in a pushchair.

She took hold of her bag but was then punched in the face by the man who took her bag and ran off towards the direction of town, towards Station Street, police said.

She sustained bruising to her face and was taken to Ipswich Hospital as a precautionary measure.

The man is described as white, around 40 years old and 6ft tall. He wore a black hooded top with the hood up, dirty grey trousers and trainers.

People with information are urged to come forward. Call police on 11.