A TEENAGER had his mobile phone stolen as he was walking to meet his mother.

The 15-year-old boy had just got off a train at Trinity Street and was walking along Manchester Road, near United Carpets, at about 4.20pm on Saturday to meet his mum, who was picking him up.

He was approached by a man, who asked him for the time.

The youngster got his iPhone out of his pocket and told him the time and put it away.

But the thief then asked the teenager for a cigarette, and the boy told him he did not smoke.

The thief then tried to grab the phone from the boy’s pocket and there was a scuffle, in which the man grabbed the phone and then fled.

Police are appealing for information from anyone who saw the incident.

The thief is described as a white man in his early 20s, about 5ft 9ins tall, skinny, with brown shaved hair. He was wearing knee-length shorts, a hat and a zip-up hooded top and trainers.

PC Joanne Atkins, of Bolton volume crime team, said: “It is believed that numerous members of the public witnessed the incident and drivers slowed down but no one got out to help him. We are appealing to public who witnessed this incident to come forward, did anyone see which direction the offender left in or any information that could help us find this man?”

People with information, or who witnessed the robbery, should contact the volume crime team on 0161 856 0958.