A group of teenagers was forced to hand over their cash and mobile phones by another group in Swindon town centre.

The teenagers were walking along Canal Walk at 11pm when a group of five others in their late teens approached them and demanded their money and mobile phones.

All but one of the teenagers complied and the group that had robbed them made off in the direction of McDonalds.

One of those robbed, a 17-year-old, reported what happened to the police who are appealing for witnesses.

The incident took place on January 15 during SAFE, a week-long Home Office campaign to protect schoolchildren from crime.

During the week, special assemblies were given in schools to give children advice on how to avoid becoming a victim of crime by taking measures such as keeping their valuables hidden by potential robbers.

At the time Paul Rowlandson, community safety director for the Government Office of the South West, said thieves were more likely to target young people because so many of them own expensive mobile phones, iPODS and MP3 players.

He said: "Robbery is an opportunist crime and with some basic information young people can be protected from crime."

The gang who robbed the teenagers on January 15 are described as being white, aged between 18 and 20 and wearing parker-style jackets.

The police officer investigating the robbery is PC Mark Jackson and he is urging anyone with information to contact him on 01793 528111.