AN elderly man was injured during a street robbery in Redditch.

It happened between 9pm and 10pm on Wednesday, January 29 near the Churchill Centre, Redditch.

As the 75-year-old victim was walking along an alley in Loxley Close, a youth jumped out of a bush.

The victim punched the youth but was then grabbed from behind by an accomplice and thrown to the floor. His pockets were searched for money but he had none, and the offenders left empty-handed.

The man sustained injuries to his knee and hand, a possible broken nose, and it is thought he may have lost consciousness for a while.

The youth was white, aged about 16 or 17, wearing dark clothing and a scarf around his mouth. The other man was older, and wearing dark clothing and a mask.

Detective Constable Amjad Iqbal of West Mercia Police said: “This was a very frightening experience for the elderly man, who realised he was being robbed and bravely tried to fight back.

“He made his own way home, bleeding from his nose and his hands, but declined medical treatment so his exact injuries are not known.

"However given that he may have lost consciousness for a while, he was extremely lucky as a very cold night and hypothermia could have quickly set in if he had been lying there for any length of time.”

Witnesses or anyone with information are asked to contact DC Iqbal on the non-emergency number 101 quoting incident 665-s-290114 or alternatively ring the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or contact Crimestoppers via their website at crimestoppers-uk.org.