Lancaster police are appealing for witnesses to come forward after a young woman was robbed and physicaly assaulted as she walked along a cycle path on Thursday.

The robbery took place around 9.30pm when three men approached the 20-year-old woman near to Asda and knocked her to the ground where she was punched and kicked to her head and body.

The men tried to rifle through her pockets and made an unsuccessful attempt to steal her phone before making off towards Lancaster.

The woman was taken to Royal Lancaster Infirmary to be checked over.

“Thankfully, the victim only suffered minor injuries as a result of this incident but has understandably been left shocked and upset,” said Detective Sergeant Colin Forsyth.

“This was a cowardly attack by three men on a lone woman who was walking home and I would urge anyone who knows the identity of these men to contact police”.

The first man is described as white, approximately 5ft 6” tall, slim build and was wearing a grey and brown hooded top, with a chequered scarf around his face and black tracksuit bottoms with stripes on.

The second man is also described as white, 6ft tall, slim build wearing a white hooded top, black scarf around his face, grey tracksuit bottoms and Nike training shoes

The third man was slightly shorter than the second man and was also wearing a hoody and had a scarf covering his face.

An investigation is underway and anyone with any information should call Lancashire Police on 101.

• People with information can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or on-line at Crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.