A 16-year-old boy was robbed at knifepoint and there were three further robberies in Andover town centre on Friday night, police have said.

It comes as attention is shone on knife crime in the town with police saying they want the public to keep reporting intelligence.

There were a total of six robberies or attempted robberies in the town centre area within a 35-minute period on Friday night.

In one incident, a 16-year-old boy was robbed of his airpods and jacket at knifepoint near the BP garage on New Street at 7.45pm.

At around 8.20pm, police received further calls of three robberies and two attempted robberies in Vigo Park.

A 23-year-old man reported an attempted robbery against him and another 22-year-old man. They were approached and threatened, however nothing was stolen.

Also, police said a 19-year-old man had his mobile phone was stolen and that two 15-year-old boys reported being the victim of a robbery. Two mobile phones and airpods were stolen.

Hampshire Constabulary are treating the incidents are connected at this time.

Inspector Chris Taylor said: “We fully understand the impact these types of crimes have on victims, as well as parents and on communities. We want to reassure you that we are working hard to identify all those involved and keep people safe.

"Tackling violence and knife crime in our community remains an absolute priority for us but it depends on partnerships across a number of sectors, not just the police, it includes education, housing, social and youth services. Every agency is crucial in supporting the district move towards a future free from violence and tackling the root causes of violent crime.

“Our Neighbourhood Policing Team will be increasing patrols in the area, please speak with them if you have any concerns.

"We urge communities to keep reporting intelligence around knife crime so that together we can continue to tackle this threat in society."

If anyone has any information that may assist the police's investigation, or any dash cam or CCTV footage, they are asked to phone 101 with reference 44210465950. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The incident comes just two weeks after a boy was threatened with a knife at the underpass at Vigo roundabout. He said around ten teenage boys threatened him with a knife and hit and kick him on the ground.

In reaction to the incident, Cllr Stu Waue, who had previously asked MP Kit Malthouse and police and crime commissioner Donna Jones for more policing on Andover's streets, said: "This weekend I was again disgusted to hear of another knife incident - this time a robbery carried out by a group of youths, again brandishing at least one knife.

"I have again contacted those who have the power (& responsibility) to help stop this BEFORE we start getting reports of actual stabbings," he said on Facebook. "I have asked what tools Hampshire Constabulary have at their disposal to combat this & when they can be implemented.

"The key to dealing with youth related crime is to strike early. If they are stopped in their tracks when they are merely "acting out", then they hopefully won't escalate to worse things.

"The more people that join me in doing this, the more likely we are to get some real action.

"If anyone suspects that their son or daughter has a knife that they are taking out in public, I urge you to remove it from them. If the thought of them suffering legal consequences doesn't scare parents into action, maybe it's also worth considering how you would feel if you got the phone call to say that your child was in hospital (or worse) as a result of being stabbed with the knife that YOU could have stopped them going out with."