A TEENAGE robber punched a cyclist and rode off on his bike in the latest of a spate of thefts.

But detectives have moved to dispel fears over the series of attacks which have occurred around Darlington since the start of the school holidays.

The latest attack took place at the Abbey Road end of Hummersknott Avenue, on Tuesday.

At around 4.30pm, a 12-year-old boy had stopped at the roadside when he was approached from behind by his teenage attacker.

The youth, aged about 15, knocked the boy off his Barracuda mountain bike, then jumped on the machine and rode off.

The robber was described as a white male, 5ft 4in, with short, dark hair.

Detective Sergeant Alec Francis, of Darlington police, said there had been at least five similar incidents in the town in recent weeks.

In Carmel Road, Tees Grange Avenue, Baydale Road and Broken Scar, there had been incidents of people being threatened or intimidated by people who made off on their bikes.

Last month, The Northern Echo reported how the summer mini-crime wave pattern had prompted Darlington police to increase surveillance.

Officers, some in plain clothes, are patrolling the town centre and other areas, including parks, which proved popular for the robbers last year.

Det Sgt Francis said: "We have a proactive strategy in relation to this and it is being addressed on a daily basis."

Anybody who has any information about the latest robbery, or another similar attack in recent weeks, should contact Darlington police on (01325) 467681