A 'POTENTIAL weapon' was pushed into the stomach of a man during a robbery in Blackburn, police said.

Officers are appealing for information after £200 was stolen from the man as he walked through a rear alley between Heys Court and Heys Lane.

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It happened at around 10.30am on Friday when the 33-year-old man was walking home after visiting a newsagents at the junction of Heys Lane and Livesey Branch Road.

He was approached from behind before the offender, who was wearing a yellow top, who then got in front of him and pushed something into his stomach.

The man started searching through the victim’s pockets, removing £200 in cash before running off towards Scotland Bank Terrace.

DC Scott Slaughter from Blackburn CID said: “This was understandably a disturbing robbery for the victim to endure, particularly as the offender pushed a potential weapon against his stomach and put his hands into the man’s own pockets to search around.

“If anyone witnessed this or has any information that could assist us I urge them to come forward and speak to us.”

Information can be reported by calling 101 quoting incident reference 0400 of April 7.

Alternatively Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.