Police are on the hunt for a man who robbed a woman who was walking with two children in an Ipswich park.

Officers were called to Christchurch Park, Ipswich at 11.05am this morning (May 25).

A number of officers including unconfirmed reports of armed police arrived at the scene and cordoned off parts of the park.

The police helicopter was scrambled to try and locate the man.

A force spokeswoman said it was a “serious” incident and the woman, believed to be in her 30s, had suffered a cut hand in the attack.

“Police are appealing for information after a woman was robbed of her purse. The woman was walking in the park with two children and was near the bowling green when a man walked up to her and told her to hand over her purse.

“She said no and started screaming but the man ran towards her and attacked her. It is believed he had a knife and the woman sustained a cut to her hand before the offender fled with her purse.

“The woman was left shocked and the children distressed and they were checked over by ambulance personnel at the scene.”

The man is described as black, with a long face and high forehead, with a three-inch Afro-style haircut and was wearing a grey jacket and black trousers. He headed off towards the war memorial after the attack.

Enquiries are continuing to locate the man involved. Anyone with information should call police on 101.