Two boys were chased by a gang and one of them was attacked after they were shoved off their bike in Watford.

Hertfordshire Constabulary has launched an appeal over the incident, which occurred at the junction of St Albans Road and North Western Avenue, next to the Shell petrol station, at 2.15am on Saturday, June 12.

The victims, two teenage boys, bought a drink from the petrol garage before leaving on a bicycle.

As they exited the garage forecourt on to St Albans Road, they noticed a group of four males who were walking down the street.

A male from the group shouted, approached the boys and pushed them off the bike. Both victims ran away and the group began to chase them.

One of the victims fell to the ground before he was punched to the side of the head. He later received hospital treatment.

The bike – a distinctive Mafia Bomma BMX with a blue, red, white and black frame, blue and red wheel spokes and bright blue tyres – was stolen and later recovered in Garston.

Detectives investigating the robbery are appealing for information and witnesses.

Detective Constable Vishal Khanna, from the Watford Local Crime Unit, said: “This was a frightening experience for the victims, who thankfully were not seriously injured during the incident.

“We are carrying out extensive enquiries into this robbery and ask anyone who saw suspicious activity around the petrol station at the time of the offence, or any sightings of four males with a bicycle, to please come forward.

“Perhaps you were driving along St Albans Road at the time it happened? If you have a dash cam fitted to your vehicle, please check the footage to see if you have captured anything of note.”

Anyone can email DC Khanna at vishal.khanna@herts.police.uk, report information online at herts.police.uk/report, or call 101 quoting reference 41/43709/21.

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