A teenage college student was attacked after he bravely ran down a thief who had snatched his mobile phone from his hands.
The 16-year-old victim was sat close to stands 55 and 56 at Preston Bus Station, waiting for his bus home, when the incident happened.
He was holding his phone when another man appeared and snatched the device, an iPhone, from his hands.
But the courageous student decided to drop his other possessions and sprint after the thief, who had run off towards the subway leading to B&M Bargains and Carlisle Street.
Despite being 50 yards behind the offender, the student caught him up and confronted him.
But he was stopped in his tracks when the thief warned him not to come any closer, saying he was carrying a knife.
The victim was then punched twice in the face by the thug, before he again ran off across the B&M car park towards Ringway.
Today police are appealing for information in a bid to track down the attacker.
Det Sgt John Crichton, who is investigating the incident for Preston CID, said: “We are appealing for anyone who may have been in the area at the time to come forward.”
The attacker is described as being white and in his late teens. He was clean shaven, with a local accent and was wearing sunglasses, a black coat and trousers and a white hooded top.
Police are currently studying CCTV pictures in a bid to identify the attacker.
The incident happened at around 4.30pm on Tuesday.
Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 101. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or online at Crimestoppers-uk.org.