Police are appealing for information after two robberies in Oxford last night in which weapons were used.

The first robbery happened at 11.25pm as a 22-year-old woman was walking near to the junction of Oxford Road and Littlehay Road.

The woman was approached by a man who threatened her with what was believed to be a gun and forced her to hand over her handbag containing her purse, an iPod, mobile phone and sunglasses, before running off.

The second robbery happened at 11.45pm on the Cowley Road, by the junction with Marsh Road, by the entrance to the alleyway that runs to Rymers Lane.

As a 21-year-old man walked along Cowley Road, he was approached by two men who threatened him with a knife and forced him to hand over his belongings, including a white bag containing a portable CD player and some CDs.

Det Con Ben Yeats said: “I would like to speak to anyone who was in the area last night who may have seen or heard anything in relation to either of these incidents.

“Please be assured that we are taking these incidents very seriously and significant resources have been deployed as part of the investigation.”

A 16-year-old and 17-year-old boy have been arrested in connection with the two incidents and are in police custody.

Police said an imitation handgun has been seized.