A 14-year-old boy was attacked by a knifeman and his friend as he walked to school.

The boy was approached by two men between Bulkington Avenue and Henty Road in Worthing sometime between 8.20am and 8.40am on Wednesday.

Both of the men were described as black and in their early 20s.

One was described as being of a stocky build and wearing a grey hooded and grey tracksuit bottoms.

The other was skinny and wearing a black hooded top and had a gold coloured square shaped ring on his middle finger on his right hand.

One of the men had a knife and the boy sustained slight scratches and torn clothing.

Nothing was stolen.

Detective Constable Julie Cox said; "The full circumstances and motive for this incident are not clear at present, and we are asking for any witnesses to contact us via 101 or email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk quoting serial 0522 of 08/1."

Update, January 21, 2014: Police now believe the attack never happened.