A DAD and toddler were robbed in a Colchester beauty spot.

The pair were walking through Highwoods Country Park when the dad’s rucksack was ripped from his back.

It contained an iPad and sunglasses, worth almost £1,000.

The father, aged in his thirties, was pushing his young daughter in a buggy through the park near to the visitor centre, where the incident was reported, on Sunday at 11.15am.

DC Adele Brown, investigating officer, said: “As he turned to look he saw a man running off his bag.

“He was not injured but the bag contained personal items including sunglasses and an iPad worth nearly £1,000.”

The suspect, who was only seen from behind, is white, with short dark hair, had very red ears and was of medium build He is thought to be about 5ft 7ins or 5ft 8ins tall and was wearing a black hooded top, grey jogging bottoms and black trainers.

An Essex Police spokeswoman added: “We would particularly like to speak to anyone who was in the area at the time and may have seen this person either before or after the incident took place.”

Anyone with information should contact DC Adele Brown at Colchester CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.