A SINGLE mother today spoke of her terror after two teenage muggers grabbed her seven-week-old baby and forced her to hand over £40.

The 21-year-old woman, who asked not to be named, is scared to leave the house after being accosted in a Darwen alleyway on Friday at 3.20pm.

Her attackers, both white, aged 14 to 16-years-old, cooed over her baby boy before asking for spare change in the alleyway off Olive Lane.

When she refused, the boys turned nasty. The larger boy wrenched the pram from her grasp and his accomplice pushed her into a wall and tried to shove his hands down her trousers.

The petrified woman handed over £40 and the boys ran away laughing.

She said: "I was on my own with a seven-week old baby so I handed over the money. I thought they'd leave me alone but then the smaller boy grabbed my jumper and tried to put his hand down my trousers. I don't think he intended to actually assault me, just wanted to scare me.

"They took £40, which is money I can't afford."

Now she has warned other mothers to be aware and has taken to carrying a personal alarm whenever she leaves the house.

She said: "As it was happening I wasn't scared, I kept thinking get away from my baby. When I got home I just collapsed. I was wandering around the house not knowing what to do..

"I'm a bit frightened about going out at the moment. My boyfriend has got me a personal alarm so I'll be carrying that from now on. I'd advise other young mums to do the same."

Police are appealing for witnesses.

One boy is 5ft 4ins, medium build, with dark brown hair with heavily gelled strands hanging down his forehead. He wore a navy blue cap with a Nike tick and a grey jumper with a black strip down the arms. He was clean shaven and spoke with a local accent.

His accomplice is 6ft, with dark, almost black hair shaved around the back and sides and thick on top. He wore a black zip-up jacket and blue jeans.

A Darwen police spokesman said: "It is absolutely gobsmacking how brazen these boys have been."

Call police on 01254 353843.