Police are appealing for witnesses after two 16-year-old boys were robbed as they sat on Magdalen Bridge, Oxford, yesterday.

The two boys, from Edinburgh, had been to visit the University of Oxford on an Open Day.

At about 8.10pm they were approached by three men, two white and one black.

One of the boys was asked for his mobile phone, which he handed over, the other boy was asked for his phone, and when he initially refused, he was hit over the head until he gave it up. The men then walked off, taking the property with them.

One of the white men is described as about 45 years old, 6ft tall, with black hair cut in a ‘short back and sides’ style. He was wearing a distinctive fifties- style black leather jacket with the collar turned up and he had rolled- up jeans.

The black man was about 5ft 10in tall, and was wearing a black hooded top with red writing on the front and red inside the hood. He had a shaven head with slight regrowth, and was aged between 30 and 35.

The other man, was white, and is described as smaller than the other two, at about 5ft 7in tall. He had a shaven head and was wearing a light coloured sweatshirt with horizontal stripes. He is believed to be in his early to mid- twenties.

Det Con David Rogers said: “There were many people who were walking past at this time who must have seen the incident and we would be keen to hear from them as soon as possible. We need to catch these people as it is unacceptable that two young visitors to our city were robbed in this way.”

Anyone with any information about the incident should contact Det Con Rogers at St Aldates police station via 0845 8 505 505, or if you don’t want to talk to the police or give your name, call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.