A 12-YEAR-OLD boy was punched in the face by a middle aged man outside McDonalds in Merrywalks.

Police said the boy, who was with a group of friends at the time, reported being hit in the face by the man who left the restaurant with his family.

A spokesman said: “We're following up reports that a boy was assaulted by a middle aged man outside the restaurant.

“The man is in his late 50s, around 6' tall, wearing blue jeans and a blue fleece.

“He is bald with hair around the sides of his face.

“It's believed the man may have got into a blue Vauxhall Agila.”

The incident happened on Sunday, January 8. While it is one month on since the assault, police have today appealed for witnesses.

Police are asking anyone who was in the fast food restaurant in Stroud at the time or who witnessed the incident to come forward.

No information was given about why the attack took place.

If you have any information please call 101 quoting incident number 194 of January 8, 2017.