WITNESSES to a robbery in which money was snatched from a businessman are being urged come forward.

Police believe the robber had been lying in wait for the man and grabbed a briefcase from his car containing what was described as a large amount of money.

The incident took place outside a credit company office in Church Street, Wheatley Hill, County Durham, between 9.15am and 9.30am on Thursday, shortly after the businessman had collected the money from a bank.

He noticed a man wearing a black donkey jacket, with reflective patches, picking up litter and putting it in a bin bag, but thought little of it.

The man was described as about 6ft, with short, possibly receding dark hair and sideburns.

He appeared to go into a side street and return wearing a dark ski-mask, before approaching the car and smashing the rear offside window.

The businessman went to confront him but was punched in the face with such force that he lost two front teeth.

His assailant then reached into the car and grabbed the brief case, before running off along Front Street and then out of sight into a back lane.

The victim, area manager for the credit company for a number of years, was left badly shaken and in considerable pain.

Police particularly want to speak to passengers on the X25 double-decker bus, which went along Church Street at the time of the attack.

They would also like to speak to a man seen sitting on a wall opposite the company's office shortly after 9am.

Anyone with information is asked to ring Peterlee CID, on 0191-586 2621, or the freephone Crimestoppers' line, anonymously, on (0800) 555111.