A 20-year-old man was sprayed in the face by a robber who snatched his mobile phone while he sat in a van in Grove.

The victim was in a white van outside Smarts Fish and Chip Shop in Savile Way with the driver’s window open at about 2pm on Wednesday, when a man approached him and sprayed an unknown substance into his face.

The offender reached through the window and took an iPhone4 from the man’s lap and as the victim tried to stop the robber he was punched in the face.

PC Rob Gurr said: “This attack happened in a busy shopping area and there would have been a lot of people around at that time who may have witnessed the disturbance.

“I would appeal to anyone who saw the incident, or who has information about it, to contact me as soon as possible.”

If you have information, please call PC Gurr via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. If you don’t want to speak to police or leave your name, call the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.