A NORTH-EAST footballer has had his sports car stolen by a gang who threatened one of his team-mates at knifepoint, police said last night.

Adam Griffin, 19, had been sitting in a Mercedes SLK belonging to Oldham Athletic team-mate David Beherall when he was approached by two men.

Former Newcastle defender Beherall had left the keys in the ignition as he went to use a cash machine at a petrol station in Oldham, Greater Manchester.

As he walked across the forecourt, two men got out of a Ford Escort and threatened Griffin at knifepoint, before hitting him across the arm with what was thought to be an iron bar.

They then dragged him from the car and threw him to the ground before they sped off in the car towards Manchester. A third man followed the pair in the Escort.

Detectives were today studying footage from the garage's cameras for information on the theft, which took place last Friday.

Beherall was born in Walker, Newcastle, and joined Newcastle United straight from school.

He captained Newcastle's youth side in 1997/98 and made his first-team debut in April 1999.