A boy, who may be as young as 10, was involved in a gang robbery in which a man was threatened with a broken bottle.

The boy was in a three-strong group of youths who robbed a man collecting money from television meters in Sunderland on Thursday afternoon.

At about 2.20pm, the man was in Cato Street, in the Southwick area of the city, when he was approached by the youths, one of whom held the bottle to his face and took his car keys.

The two older youths, aged around 15 or 16, then drove off in his car, a silver Ford Focus estate, while the younger boy, said to be aged around 10 or 12, ran off towards Beaumont Street.

The car was found abandoned just two minutes later in Chestnut Crescent and a quantity of cash had been stolen.

Anyone with information is asked to ring police on 0191-454 7555 ext 66144.