POLICE are hunting a gang who carried out a nighttime mugging of a man in a Hampshire village.

A 42-year-old man was assaulted and robbed in Otterbourne.

The mugging happened between 11pm on Saturday and 1.30am the following morning the victim, who was pushing his bicycle along Otterbourne Road, was approached by four men.

They attacked him, leaving him with cuts to his wrist and knee.

He was also punched leaving him with a black eye, facial cuts, and he has subsequently been treated for a bruise to the brain.

The men stole his folding mountain bike, which had a grey frame and green forks, and his wallet.

The victim described the first man as: black, in his late 20s, 5ft 8ins tall, of average build, with dreadlocks around five inches long and wearing a black baseball cap and a black hooded top.

The second man was described as white, in his late 20s, 6ft tall, skinny build, with ginger hair and wearing a dark puffa jacket.

The third man was white, in his late 20s, 5ft 9ins tall, average build with black curly hair and a beard.

The victim described the fourth man as white, in his late twenties, 5ft 8ins tall, average build, with black hair and a scruffy beard of different lengthsabnd wearing dark clothing.

Sgt Bethan Wood, from the Winchester rural Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “This is a very rare occurrence for Otterbourne, we haven’t received any similar reports in the area.

"I’d urge anyone who saw anything suspicious or who recognises the descriptions of the men to contact the investigations team by calling 101.

“The Neighbourhood Policing Team will be regularly patrolling the area and any residents with concerns can speak to one of these uniformed officers, or can e-mail winchester.rural.police@hampshire.pnn.police.uk."

Anyone with information can call 101 quoting 44190066460. Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.