TWO men attacked a teenage boy and then made one of his friends hit him several times, threatening violence if they refused.

A 16-year-old was with a group of friends in Clair Park in Haywards Heath on Thursday at about 6.30pm when he was approached by two men.

One of the men attacked the victim and stole his gold ring while the other stole the boy’s trainers, which he returned shortly afterwards.

The pair then ordered one of the boy’s friends to hit him in the face several times, and threatened violence if they refused.

The two suspects are believed to have left the park and headed towards Haywards Heath railway station. One was was white with dark blond hair and was wearing grey tracksuit bottoms, a grey jumper and black trainers.

The other was was white and had a small pony tail, and was wearing a black puffer jacket with a fur-lined hood, a grey tracksuit top and grey tracksuit bottoms.

A 21-year-old man from Chichester and a 24-year-old man from Haywards Heath have been arrested on suspicion of robbery and released on conditional bail, pending police investigations.

Officers are urging anyone with information about the incident to call 101, quoting serial 1141 of 15/11.