A FIFTEEN-year-old boy was punched in the face during a canal towpath robbery in Kidderminster.

The incident happened on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal near Sainsbury’s between 7pm and 7.30pm on Sunday.

The victim was approached by two boys and a girl who surrounded him and demanded his phone.

One of them punched him in the face causing him to fall backwards.The victim sustained a minor injury to his lip, which did not need medical treatment.

They stole the boy's white earphones, but not the phone itself, which was in his inside pocket.

The first male offender was described as aged 11 or 12, 5ft 2ins, thin and wearing a hoody. The second boy was 14 to 16, 5ft 7ins to 5ft 8ins, and of thin build.

The girl was 14 or 15, 5ft 6ins to 5ft 7ins, of large build, with a big nose, dark curly hair, and wearing a hoody. The offenders were all white.

Witnesses or anyone with information are asked to contact Detective Constable Shelley Aplin at West Mercia Police on the non-emergency number 101, quoting incident 619-s-160214, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.