THUGS robbed a man of his watch and mobile phone at knifepoint in Great Lever park.

The 27-year-old victim was having a cigarette at the entrance to the Bradford Road park at 8.30pm on Wednesday when he was approached by two men who asked him for a light.

Fearing for his safety, he handed them his phone, a grey Samsung.

The robbers then demanded cash and the man turned out his pockets to show them he did not have any money on him. They told him to hand over his black Guess watch which he threw towards them before fleeing the park.

The first robber — who was armed with a knife — is white, in his mid- 20s, 6ft tall, skinny and with a pale face. The second was also white, aged aged about 16, 5ft 7in tall and skinny. He has a “baby-face” and was wearing a hat, light-coloured jogging bottoms and a dark top.

Det Cons Steve Riddle said: “The victim was in fear of his safety throughout. I believe the offenders are local and if anyone recognises them from the descriptions or was in the area and saw two men matching this description please contact us.”

You can call police on 0161 856 5609 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.