POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a suspicious incident in which a man opened the door of a taxi and gripped the shoulder of a baby.

A woman was in the back of the taxi with her one-year-old son who was strapped in with a seatbelt.

Three men - described as being of Eastern European appearance - were standing in the road and as the taxi was stopped at the junction, one emerged from behind the vehicle and opened the rear door.

"He then placed his gripped hand onto the shoulder of the child, then let go and walked across the road to the other two males who all walked off," said a Cleveland Police spokesman.

The incident happened at around 5pm on Sunday (June 11) at the A1825 junction with Bridge Road, Yarm Lane and Riverside Road, Stockton.

The three men had been standing near the Halfords store. The man who opened the taxi door is described as dark skinned, 25 to 30-years-old, of thin build with short cropped black hair and wearing all black clothing. Afterwards all three walked off along Bridge Road, towards Victoria Bridge.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Cleveland Police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 444 111.