Two thieves in baseball-caps sidled up alongside a backpacker and slashed his legs, then stole his rucksack.

The victim, wearing shorts and a T-shirt, was walking in Park Crescent Road, Brighton, when the two men approached.

As he walked between them, one pulled out a knife and began cutting at his bare legs and tried to grab his bag.

He tried to fend the attacker off but was cut repeatedly across his arms.

The robbers were both white and in their early 20s.

The man with the blade was 5ft 10in with freckles and a gold chain. He wore a Burberry baseball cap, white T-shirt, blue jeans and Adidas trainers.

The second man had a gaunt face and wore jeans, a cap and white trainers.

The attack happened on Monday between 8.30pm and 9.30pm.

A man was stabbed in the chest after he refused to hand over money.

The attack took place at about 10am yesterday in an alley near Safeway in Kemp Town, Brighton.

The attacker fled into George Street empty-handed. He is described as white, tanned and in his late 20s.