POLICE are hunting two robbers who threatened a teenage boy with a machete and a baseball bat.

The boy and a girl were walking along Nutley Avenue past the back of Timor House in Saltdean at about 7.10pm on Saturday.

The Argus reported yesterday that the boy was approached by two armed men who threatened him before both running off.

Now the police have issued an appeal for witnesses to the attack.

One suspect was white, 6ft tall, around 19-years-old, of heavy build, with short hair and a moustache.

He was wearing a dark coloured zip-up hooded top, a T-shirt, black jogging bottoms and carrying a black rucksack.

The second was mixed race, 6ft 1in tall, in his late teens, of slim build and with black, frizzy hair.

He was wearing a blue parka coat with a fur-trim hood and dark-coloured jeans.

Detective Sergeant Caroline Gridley said: “The suspects came from an alleyway that runs behind the shops on Longridge Avenue.

“The victim has been left, understandably, very shaken by the incident.

"I am appealing to anyone who witnessed the robbery or saw two men matching the description of the suspects to get in contact with us without delay.”

Read more: 'Machete' used in Saltdean armed robbery

Yesterday one man who witnessed the incident said he stepped in and challenged one of the robbers who was brandishing a machete.

Karl Malone, 35, said he was in his flat when he heard a "massive commotion" outside.

He went out to find the two men threatening a 17-year-old boy, he said.

Mr Malone said: "He had a machete to his throat in front of a lot of people

"He pulled it out and ran at me.

"I stood my ground and he did a runner."

Mr Malone added: "I can't have things like that happening to people.

"I can't see people getting hurt.

"I don't like bullies. All these young people getting stabbed left, right and centre."

Go online to report the information or call 101, quoting 1050 of 19/04.