A GANG robbed a man as he sat in a park in central Southampton.

Officers in Southampton are appealing for witnesses after a 20-year-old man was robbed by a group of six men at 7.40pm on Wednesday.

The incident took place when the man was sitting in the centre of West Park, near the statue of Isaac Watts, between Cumberland Place and Above Bar Street.

Six men aged between 18 and 21 approached him and demanded the man’s wallet. One group member then punched him several times in the face and head and his wallet was stolen.

The group ran off towards Cumberland Place and down towards the Mayflower Theatre.

The man who assaulted the victim is described as black, aged between 18 and 21, 5ft 8in with an athletic build. He is said to have very short black hair and was wearing a grey hooded-jumper. He spoke with a local accent.

Detective Constable Jenna Osman from the Western Investigations Team said: “The park is not brightly lit at night and as such is not safe for people to be alone. If you’re walking on your own in the hours of darkness please stick to using roads and main paths and not the parks.

“However, there were people in the park at the time this incident occurred. Were you in the park or near Cumberland Place? We are appealing to anyone who saw this incident or remembers seeing a group of men in the park or surrounding areas to come forward and get in contact via 101 quoting 44150348745.”