REASSURANCE patrols are being carried out following two knifepoint robberies.

At about 11.45pm on Friday, May 5, a man and woman walking along Newborough Street in York were approached by three men riding bikes from the direction of Shipton Street.

One of the men head-butted the male victim in the face. He then produced a knife and demanded he gave him his wallet. The victim, in his 20s, walked away from the suspect.

No items were taken from him, but he needed hospital treatment for his facial injury.

Police say the suspect was very vocal and aggressive and is described as white, about 21-years-old, of skinny build, 5ft 7ins tall, with dark brown hair cut short but the same length all over, and brown eyes. He was wearing a light grey tracksuit and riding a dark-coloured bike.

Five minutes later on the same day, another man, aged in his 20s, was approached on Grosvenor Road by three men on bicycles.

One of them produced a knife and demanded the victim hand over his wallet. The victim did so, and the three men cycled off towards Scarborough Terrace.

The knife-welding suspect is described as white, in his late 20s or early 30s, 5ft 11ins to 6ft tall. He had a heavy eye-brow ridge, flat nose and sunken cheeks and spoke with a thick accent. He was wearing a grey, loose-fitting tracksuit over a dark t-shirt. He was on a dark-coloured BMX-type bike.

Officers from York Neighbourhood Policing Team have been conducting extra reassurance patrols in the area as the investigation into the robberies continues.

Anyone with information is asked to contact DC Robert Brook, of the York Serious Crime Team on 101.