Two men approached the 14-year-old victim as he made his way to a computer shop to buy a game with the money.

He was stopped by the pair at the Peace Gardens, on the corner of Friargate and Ring Way at 5.10pm on Thursday.

The victim, who had left his stepfather moments before outside Streetwise Sports in Preston, was asked for a cigarette but said he did not smoke.

But the two offenders, who were between 16 and 20 and had short dark hair, started to walk alongside him, quizzing him about where he was going and if he had any money.

The first offender, a white man wearing a black zipped hoodie top and black tracksuit bottoms, threatened to "bang him" if he did not hand over his cash.

The boy refused but the robber put his hand in his right pocket and threatened to stab him – though no knife was actually seen.

The boy threw the £5 to the floor in terror and the offenders picked it up and ran off.

DS John Crichton, investigating the robbery, said: "This is bullying beyond bullying. The young lad was terrified.

"There will have been a lot of motorists passing the area at that time, and might have been people in the gardens, opposite the Greyfriars pub."

The second man, also white, was wearing a black Timberland jacket.

Police are now studying CCTV footage from the area.

* Anyone with information should call Preston Police on 01772 203203 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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