Police are appealing for witnesses after an attempted robbery on a teenager in Oxford by three hooded men.

At about 8.45pm last night, a 17-year-old boy was walking back from the Sainsbury’s supermarket at Heyford Hill across the bridge that leads to Rose Hill when the incident happened.

As he crossed the bridge he was confronted by three men with their faces covered, who demanded that he hand over his wallet.

The boy refused and a scuffle broke out, in which the boy was struck in the face causing an injury to his face.

The three men then ran off empty-handed across the bridge in the direction of the supermarket’s car park.

police said the men were white; each one wore a hooded top — one black, one white and one grey — with the hood up and had scarves covering their faces.

One of the men was much shorter than the other two and the victim believes they were aged in their late teens.

Det Sgt Kev Parsons said: “I would like to hear from anyone who was shopping in Sainsbury’s supermarket yesterday evening who may have seen these three men running through the car park.

“I would also like to hear from anyone who has any information about the people who carried out this robbery.

“The neighbourhood team has been made aware of the incident and patrols are being stepped up in the area to reassure the local community.”

Anyone with information about the incident should contact Det Sgt Kev Parsons via the 24-hour Thames Valley Police Enquiry Line on 0845 8 505 505. Alternatively, you can contact the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.