A TEN-YEAR-OLD boy was grabbed by a person wearing a balaclava as he rode his bike in the woods, police believe. 

He told his mother someone grabbed his shoulder as he rode near the Trent Close area of Mill Pond, Gossops Green, Crawley, at about 5.20pm yesterday (Sunday). 

The youngster, who was cycling away from the bridge and towards Trent Close at the time, managed to run away and alert his mother. 

Detective Sergeant Karrie Bohanna said: "The boy did exactly the right thing by telling his mum immediately and she rang us.

"The boy wasn't sure if the person who grabbed him was a man or woman as they had their face covered with a black mask or balaclava.

"He describes them as around six foot and wearing black gloves.

"The Mill Pond area was very busy at this time and the suspect would have had to pass a lot of people."

She added police had no further calls about other children being approached but they were keen to hear from anyone who might have seen something suspicious.

The boy was unharmed and is being looked after by his family.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk quoting serial 1120 of September 4.