A GANG of teenagers armed with a knife have threatened two schoolboys before stealing their bikes in Widnes.

The two 14-year-old boys were talking with friends between Bargain Booze and Barnado’s at Upton Rocks at around 5.45pm on July 30.

A larger group of around a dozen teenagers approached the boys from the direction of The Observatory pub and demanded to use one of their bikes.

A member of the larger group showed that he was carrying a knife and threatened one of the boys.

He rode it around the park at Upton Rocks for a while and then pointed his knife at another member of the smaller group of boys and demanded that he give up possession of his bike too.

The teen with the knife and one of his friends then rode the two bicycles around the park and after refusing to give the bikes back to their owners they fled the scene.

DC Tracey Short said: “The two 14-year-old boys who had their bikes stolen have been left devastated and very shaken up.

“Robbery is a serious crime, as is carrying a knife in public, and we are determined to catch the offenders and make them face the consequences of their actions.”

The teen with the knife is described as between 15 and 17 years old and 5ft 7ins to 5ft 9ins.

He had stubble on his chin, a clear complexion and a long pointed nose and was wearing a blue tracksuit jacket with the hood up and a grey or black coat over it.

He also had on navy blue Nike trainers with grey soles.

The teen who stole the other bike was around 14 to 15 years old.

He had tanned skin, a squashed nose and short black curly hair and was wearing an unzipped royal blue tracksuit or coat.

They were both white and spoke with a Liverpudlian accent.

The mountain bikes that they stole were a grey Nukeproof Mega Carbon S and a green Norco Sight A7.1.

Officers are also keen to hear from anyone who believes they have CCTV or dashcam footage that may help the investigation.

Anyone with information can call Cheshire Constabulary on 101, quoting incident number 139368, visit cheshire.police.uk/contact/general-enquiries or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

To submit dashcam footage visit cheshire.police.uk/advice-and-support/roads-and-vehicle-safety/submit-dashcam-footage.