POLICE have arrested a 54-year-old man on suspicion of assaulting an eight-year-old boy as he walked to school.

Officers questioned the man, from Southend, after Bradley Hawes was attacked as he walked to Hamstel Junior School last Monday.

The schoolboy, of Bewley Court, Whittingham Avenue, said a man shouted and swore at him as well as grabbing him.

The group was walking in Poynings Avenue at about 8.30am when the incident happened.

The man has been bailed until November 14.