A gang attacked a man with a metal pole, striking him and snatching his phone before fleeing the scene.

The crime is thought to have happened in the early hours of Friday morning, where a man in his 20s was walking along an alleyway from Victoria Road towards Jemmett Road in Ashford.

Police have linked the crime to a separate attack in Jemmett Road where a teenage boy was punched in the face but escaped without losing belongings on Saturday morning.

In the first attack the victim is said to have been approached by a gang of four or five men.

One suspect was described as white, short and of a slim build with a local accent and wearing a black tracksuit top and bottoms.

Another suspect was described as aged 25, white, about 5ft 11ins tall and had dark brown hair and a moustache.

In the second attack the teenager was walking home when a group of five or six men aged 17 to 19 punched him in the face. Nothing was stolen.

Det Insp Cara Ferguson said: "We believe the two incidents could potentially be linked and would like anyone with information about either, or who recognises the descriptions, to contact us."

If you can help, please call police on 01843 222289 or Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111, quoting crime reference number ZY/27108/18.