A third woman has been accosted by a robber wielding a hammer in the Elm Grove area of Brighton.

Police appealed for witnesses last week after two women were threatened in the early hours

Today, they launched a further appeal after another woman was threatened with a hammer by a robber who stole her money and mobile phone in Wellington Road at 2am on Saturday.

The victim was walking home from a night out when the attack happened opposite St Joseph's Church. 

The robber came up to her and demanded she hand over cash and her phone, which she did. He then ran off. She was unhurt but shaken.

The man is described as white, aged between 26 and 30, with either a bald or closely shaven head, a pale complexion, ginger coloured stubble, between 5ft 6in and 5ft 8in, of skinny build and wearing a light green coloured hoodie with a light coloured jacket over the top.

Detective Sergeant Maureen Lambert said: "We are looking at whether the latest robbery is linked to the previous ones the week before. We are appealing for witnesses to the one on Saturday and would like to hear from anyone who has any information."

The first incident happened on November 19 shortly after 1am. A 21-year-old woman was walking back across the Level after finishing work and was robbed on the corner of Elm Grove and Howard Road.

 She described him as white, about 5ft 5in, of slim to medium build and aged in his late teens but no older than 21, wearing a grey hooded top with blue stripes down the side.

The second incident happened on November 24 at around 5.25am. A 20-year-old had just got out a taxi with friends at the bottom of Elm Grove and was attacked near the corner of Bonchurch Road.

She described him as white, aged about 20, 5ft 6in and of skinny build. He was wearing a light blue hooded top with the hood up and a balaclava or scarf covering the bottom of his face which had either a Chinese or a ‘NY’ symbol on it.

A 14-year-old boy was arrested on 25 November for two similar robberies on 19 and 24 November. He has been questioned and released on bail until 2 January 2014.

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting serial 0809 of 30/11 or email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk