Police are hunting a man who slapped a child across the face in a supermarket in Crawley.

The six-year-old boy was in a shopping trolley at Morrisons in High Street at 10.45am on Monday (December 15) with his mother when she momentarily turned away from her son.

While her back was turned a man approached the boy and slapped him across the face. The man then left the supermarket.

The man was white, between 20 and 25, stocky and about 6ft. He had a round, spotty face with some stubble and was wearing a green hooded jacket with fluff around the hood.

He was with a woman who was white, thin and 6ft. She had long dark hair and was wearing white trousers.

PC Gillian Sadler said: "This appears to be a completely motiveless attack on a defenceless child, who fortunately only received minor injuries.

"We need to speak to anyone who saw the incident or who recognises the description of the man and woman. If you know anything at all about what happened, please call us."

Anyone with information should email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk quoting serial 444 of 15/12, call 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.