POLICE believe two robberies in 30 minutes in Burnley are connected.

In the first attack, a 37-year-old man suffered a fractured cheekbone, broken nose, black eye and cuts to his lips and mouth as he walked along Briercliffe Road at 12.30am on Sunday.

The man had just left a birthday party at the Derby Arms in Colne Road and had started walking down Briercliffe Road when a gang of about eight to 10 youths punched him to the ground where he was kicked repeatedly.

The robbers stole £30, a Nokia 3310 mobile phone, house keys and a tobacco case.

The victim was taken to Burnley General and later transferred to the Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

All the attackers were white with two wearing a white baseball cap and one was tall.

In the second incident at 1am a 24-year-old man was walking in nearby Barden Lane when a gang of youths approached and attacked him.

The victim was slightly injured and had his door keys and some music tapes stolen.

Call Burnley CID on 01282 425001 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.