A gang of robbers launched two unprovoked attacks on teenagers in the middle of the afternoon.

Police are linking the two random vicious assaults which took place in St Leonards on Sunday.

A 17-year-old boy from London suffered an unprovoked attack as he walked in Silchester Road, St Leonards at about 5pm.

Three men drove up in a small blue hatchback car, hit the boy in the head with a weapon and stole his Blackberry phone.

A short time later at 5.40pm another boy, aged 17, was approached by a car containing three men in Kings Road and he too was attacked.

DC Robin Mitchell-Davis said: "These were violent and unprovoked assaults on two teenagers and we are speaking with them to ascertain the full circumstances of what happened.

"Anyone who witnessed these assaults or has any information on the men who committed them is asked to contact police on 101, email contact.centre@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."