ROBBERS carrying iron rods pushed a 14-year-old foreign language student to the floor before stealing his wallet and mobile phone.

The Taiwanese student had just got off a bus at The Oval in Rose Hill on Monday at 9.15pm, and was walking with a friend towards the shops when he was approached by three men carrying iron rods.

He was pushed to the floor and held down by one of the men while the others searched his pockets.

They stole his wallet containing £50 in UK currency and 800 Taiwanese dollars, worth about £15. His gold coloured Sony Ericsson G 700 mobile phone was also stolen.

The first robber is described as white, in his 20s, about 5ft 11ins and of average build. He had a goatee beard and was wearing a white sports jacket and a blue baseball cap.

The second man was black, 5ft 11ins tall and in his 20s, with a bald head and a goatee beard. He was wearing a white T-shirt and jeans and was carrying an iron rod.

The third man, also carrying an iron rod, was black, 5ft 11ins tall and his 20s and had a shaved head.

Pc Rob Barratt said: “We are very keen to speak to a woman who saw this incident take place. She is described as being in her 40s, with brown hair tied back in a pony tail.”

Anyone with information should call Pc Barratt on 0845 8 505 505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.