A GANG of knife-wielding thugs is being linked to two assaults that left victims in hospital.

Police were called to Castle Square in Brighton city centre just after midnight on Sunday.

The victim, a 23-year-old man, was talking on his phone when a group of men threatened him with a knife and demanded he hand over the phone.

He was kicked and punched by the group of three men, and had to be taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital for cuts and bruises to his face.

Police say that attack is linked to a similar incident just a few minutes earlier in nearby Prince’s Street opposite Pavilion Parade.

Four men were assaulted and injured by a group of five men in the attack, and were also taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Detective Constable Chris Clarke said: “We believe these two assaults might be linked and we are appealing to anyone who was in the Old Steine area around midnight on Sunday who might have seen something to get in touch.”

The detective said one suspect was a skinny black man aged between 18 and 20, 5ft 10 ins, with a crew cut haircut, and navy Adidas tracksuit. He spoke with a London accent and was carrying a police style baton.

Another suspect was a white man of similar age, 5ft 9ins with a crew cut hair style. He wore a grey hooded top and tracksuit bottoms and also had a London accent.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact police on 101 or online and quote serial 6 and serial 39 of 12/08.