A 60-YEAR-OLD man was mugged after protecting bank customers from robbers.

The man's walking stick was kicked away and his wallet stolen from his jacket pocket in Stockton High Street, on Saturday, at about 7.10pm.

He had alerted and escorted a woman on to a bus after she used a Lloyds Bank cash machine, because he was suspicious of a couple at a bus stop watching the customers.

He then used the machine himself, placing the cash in his trouser pocket, and putting his empty wallet in his jacket as a decoy.

The unnamed man was unhurt, but shocked when he was attacked.

Police want to talk to the young couple at the bus stop.

The lad was aged 14, with shoulder-length mousy brown hair, and wore an orange T-shirt. The girl was 13 to 16, and had short ginger or blonde hair.