A BUS driver has been robbed of his takings.

He was punched in the side of the face by a youth, who was one of three young people to board the empty Arriva bus at a stop in east Cleveland.

The youth snatched the driver's cash machine and ran off after the attack, which happened in St Andrew's Road, New Marske, near Saltburn, at about 10pm on Tuesday.

Cleveland Police are appealing for anyone with information about the robbery to contact officers at Redcar on (01642) 302626.

The robber is said to be in his late-teens or early-20s. Details of the amount of money stolen are being withheld by police.