A TEENAGE gang punched and kicked a man before stealing his wallet containing £700.

In a separate attack, youngsters grabbed a handbag from a 52-year-old woman as she emerged from a telephone box in Nelson early this morning.

In the first incident, a 25-year-old mature student from Earby had just got off a bus in Station Road, Barnoldswick, when the gang jumped him.

He was punched in the face and kicked while on the floor before his attackers ran off.

When he recovered, he found his wallet and cash had been stolen.

The man was taken to Airedale General Hospital, Steeton, for treatment to a bloodied nose and bruising to his head.

Two members of the public witnessed the attack.

There were four or five youths around 14 years old involved in the assault, which took place at 9pm on Friday.

This morning's robbery happened at around 1.45am in Glenfield Road, Nelson.

The woman had just left a public telephone box when three youths in their early teens came up to her and snatched her handbag from her hand before running off.

The bag contained £80 cash and various documents.

Police said the woman was not hurt during the attack but was left in a confused and distressed state.

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