AN 84-year-old man was robbed by five men as he returned home through pouring rain after visiting his wife in sheltered accommodation.

Frank Neat was walking along Duke Street, in Darlington, at 10.45pm on Saturday when he was approached by the men, who rifled through his pockets, taking his watch, prescribed drugs and cigarettes.

After visiting his wife, Betty, he was walking to the town centre to get a bus after a taxi had failed to pick him up.

"I just realised when it was too late what Skinnergate and that area is like on the weekend," he said.

"I never usually walk down that street on a night. It never enters your mind at the time."

Mr Neat was left shaken but unhurt, having decided not to try to fight off the attackers - who had approached from the town centre - in the hope the attack would be over quickly.

"These five figures loomed up and I could hear them a few yards away, and their language was foul," said Mr Neat.

"Somebody said: 'You see him, just go and knock his f****** hat off'.

"Next thing I knew, they just surrounded me and went through my belongings and took the lot."

As soon as they had what they wanted, the men, who Mr Neat said were dressed in dark clothes and aged 20 to 30, escaped down an alley at the bottom of Duke Street, towards Bondgate.

Mr Neat said: "I really don't know what I felt, I was just in a daze. It was bucketing with rain and I was sopping wet. I just made my way for the bus and thought 'get out of it'."

Anybody who has any information is urged to contact Darlington police on (01325) 467681