ELDERLY people have been warned to be on their guard after thugs attacked and robbed two pensioners in Darwen town centre on the same day.

Two men in their early 20s are being hunted in connection with the incidents, in which elderly men were attacked near the bus station. In the first attack, the 71-year-old victim was knocked to the ground near the Co-op, in Railway Road, on Monday afternoon. The thieves stole his brown leather wallet containing £70 and a carrier bag of shopping.

It has since been discovered that a second pensioner, aged 79, was also mugged between 1.45pm and 2pm on the same day as he sat on a bench near the market hall. His wallet containing £200 was stolen.

Det Sgt Mark Vaughton, of Darwen CID, said: "The 79-year-old was sitting on the benches near the bus station when two men came up and distracted him. One pushed him in the back, making him lean forward on the bench while the other man stole his wallet from his jacket pocket.

"It happened between 1.45pm and 2pm on Monday so there must have been plenty of people about who may have seen something but not realised at the time what was happening.

"We believe the two incidents are connected and we are looking for two white men in their early 20s."

The robbers were described as having short hair and wearing white three-quarter length tracksuit bottoms and sandals.

They were both wearing football shirts, one red and one white.

Neither victim suffered injuries but both were left shaken by their experiences.

Anyone with information about the attacks should contact Darwen CID on 01254 353841 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.