A police officer was hit with a sledgehammer after responding to reports of a domestic fight involving a knife, the Met Police said.

Officers were called to Sunningfields Road in Barnet, north London, at about 09:30 BST on Friday.

Two of them entered an address and were confronted by a man who swung the sledgehammer at them and fled, the force added.

Officers are keen to speak to Cayle Lynch in connection with what happened.

Mr Lynch, 24, is « known to sleep rough » and frequents Sunny Hill Park and Hampstead Heath.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said he « should not be approached ».

The police officer who was struck, who is in her mid-30s, was not seriously injured and is recovering at home.