A 14-YEAR-OLD boy was punched in the head and kneed in the nose before a thief stole his £300 mobile phone.

The incident happened near to Fulledge Fair on Friday at 9pm as the teenager walked along Towneley Holmes Road, Burnley.

He was approached by a 17-year-old male who punched the youth to the side of his head before his Samsung T100 mobile phone was snatched from him.

Detective Sergeant Derek Jones said: "As the boy was crouched down the offender kneed him in the face which caused his nose to bleed.

"I would urge anybody who was about at the time of this incident to contact us with any information."

The offender is described as having a muscular build, 5ft 7ins tall, wearing a mid-blue baseball cap, a black long-sleeved hooded top with the letters POD written across the front in large white letters, blue jeans and black Rockport shoes.

Anyone with information should contact Burnley police on 01282 425001 or Crimestoppers, anonymously if desired, on 0800 555 111.