DETECTIVES are appealing for witnesses to come forward after a 27-year-old woman was robbed at knife-point as she walked home in Burnley.

The robbery took place shortly after 11pm on Thursday when the woman was approached by a man as she walked along the rear alley of Abel Street, close to the junction with Violet Street.

The man threatened her with a knife and demanded her mobile phone.

The woman refused and the man has then held it to her throat, before taking her blue Samsung S3 mini. He then ran off in the direction of New Hall Street.

The suspect is described as being a local man, 6ft tall, medium build and was wearing a dark coloured waterproof coat.

DC Dave Walker said: “I would appeal to any witnesses who may have any information in relation to this matter to contact me, DC Dave Walker or DC Matt McGuiness at Burnley CID on 01282 472242 or 101.”

The woman sustained a small cut to her neck but did not require medical treatment.