A man on his way to work was punched to the ground and robbed after being asked for the time.

The victim, in his mid-20s, was walking in Church Street, Brighton near to the junction with St Nicholas Road just before 6.45am yesterday when he was stopped and asked for the time by a man in his early 20s wearing a black hoodie.

The suspect then punched him to the floor, attempted to steal his phone before grabbing and running off with his bag which he dropped a short distance away.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call Sussex Police on 101 quoting serial 161 of 16/05.