POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a teenager was robbed at knifepoint as he walked home with his girlfriend.

The 17-year-old, who has not been named, was approached by several people while he walked in Collingwood Street, Coundon, near Bishop Auckland, on Saturday night. He was then threatened with a knife and robbed.

Police in Bishop Auckland are appealing for witnesses of the incident, that happened at 10.10pm.

Det Con Marco Fantin said the incident was a vicious attack and said he wanted to hear from anyone who witnessed it.

He said: "Any information received will be treated with the strictest confidence. We believe that there were a lot of people in the area at the time who may have seen something and we urge them to come forward."

Witnesses should contact Det Con Fantin or Det Con Karl Hopps at Bishop Auckland Police Station on (01388) 603566.