TWO schoolchildren are recovering after being attacked by a group of youths.

A 15-year-old boy was knocked to the floor by a blow to the back of the head after being approached by the gang in the Brownhill area of Blackburn at around 5pm on Tuesday.

They asked him for a cigarette before attacking him. He had his silver and maroon Nokia N95 taken from him.

Shortly afterwards a 12-year-old boy was head butted after getting off a bus in Whalley New Road.

Both boys were left badly bruised. Police are linking the two incidents and three teens have been arrested.

A 13-year-old from Blackburn has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and assault; and a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old have been arrested on suspicion of assault.

Police are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the attacks, or who may have been offered a Nokia phone, to come forward by contacting 01254 51212 and quoting log reference number 225eq11/03/08.