Man pushed into canal during attempted robbery

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A MAN was hit with a metal baton and pushed into the canal during an attempted robbery in Worcester.

The victim, who is in his 20s, was walking along the canal towpath with a teenage girl by the Lansdowne Road bridge when they were approached by two men in their late teens.

They demanded money from the pair but when they refused, the youths hit the man on the head with a metal baton and pushed him into the canal. They they ran off in the direction of the Arboretum.

The assault happened at about 7.15pm on Tuesday, January 24 and police are appealing for witnesses.

One youth was white, thin and was wearing a white hooded top and a white baseball cap. The other was black, also thin, wearing a light-coloured top and he had his face partially covered.

DC Will Brimmell of Worcester CID said: "This was an unprovoked and nasty assault and the level of violence used is unusual for Worcester, so we need to trace the two people responsible.

"If you saw these youths in the Lansdowne Road area last week or you recognise from the descriptions who they may be, we urge you to get in touch with the police."

Anyone with information should contact Worcester CID at West Mercia Police via the non-emergency police number 101 or information can be passed on anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.