A TEENAGE boy was left terrified after two youths dragged him into a side street and threatened him with a makeshift weapon before making off with his mobile phone.

One of the youths grabbed his victim and pushed him away from the main road to an alleyway where his balaclava-clad accomplice was waiting - armed with a plank of wood with a nail sticking out of the end.

The 15-year-old's ordeal started as the first youth approached him in Bondgate, Darlington, at 7.20pm on Wednesday.

He was pushed into Four Riggs, where the youth dragged him into a corner and threatened to assault him with the plank, demanding: "Give me what you've got."

Detective Sergeant Alec Francis, of Darlington police, said: "He handed over the property because he was afraid of what was going to happen to him.

"It is a disturbing attack, there is no two ways about it - it is something which we have not come across for an awful long time.

"Fortunately, there were no injuries aggravating this incident further."

The youth wearing a black balaclava was aged 15 to 18 years, white, 5ft 6in tall, of athletic build and wearing a navy blue jacket with a zip up the front, jeans and black leather gloves.

His accomplice was of a similar age, of athletic build, 5ft 4in to 5ft 5in tall, with dark brown or blond hair, which was short and flat. He wore a black "designer-type" jacket and light blue jeans.

The stolen phone was a Nokia 3310.

Det Sgt Francis said: "Whether it is somebody picking up on the current trend of theft of mobile phones, we are not sure, but they are good descriptions. We will be looking at the closed circuit television coverage in the area at the relevant time and hoping that will give us some leads to identify the people responsible."

The Government has signalled a crackdown on mobile phone crime.

Last week, a mugger who attacked a teenager for his mobile phone was jailed by a court in London.

BT Cellnet is to introduce a new computer system to block calls from stolen handsets, while Vodafone is bringing in a six-point anti-theft plan.

* Anybody with information on the Darlington theft is urged to contact police on (01325) 467681 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

In Darlington last year, a total of 623 mobile phones were reported stolen, with another 69 thefts reported so far this year.