POLICE are hunting a robber who stole a man's wallet after befriending him in a pub.

A police spokesman said the suspect, caught on a closed-circuit television camera, struck up a conversation with another customer inside Monty's, in Front Street, Stanley, at 10pm on Saturday, July 30.

At about 11pm that night, the customer left the pub and went to Stanley bus station, where he got on a bus to Consett. The male suspect also got on the bus and sat next to him.

As the bus approached the stop in West Road, Annfield Plain, the male suspect placed a hard object into the other man's thigh and said: "I've got a knife, give us your wallet."

The spokesman said that, after a short struggle, the wallet was handed over and the suspect got off the bus and ran towards New Kyo. The wallet contained £60.

The robber was in his late twenties, about 6ft, muscular and with very short light hair. He had tattoos on both arms.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0845 60 60 365 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.