A TEENAGER has been left shaken after being “robbed at knifepoint” by two hooded thugs in Leigh.

The 18-year-old, who wishes not to be named, was walking up Leigh Steps from the town’s train station at about 4.30pm on Friday, when he saw two boys in hoodies with their faces covered standing off to his right.

He claims the two boys approached him and asked what phone he had, before they “snatched it out his hand”.

“They took my phone and wanted to reset it so it couldn’t be tracked, then that’s when one of them showed me the knife in his pocket,” he said.

“I showed them where settings were so they could reset my phone, and then they just walked off.”

The shaken teenager continued on his way and warned other people he passed to stay away from Leigh Steps before arriving at his girlfriend’s house and calling the police.

His shocked mum has taken to social media to warn others about the incident, and claims she received lots of responses from other parents saying the same happened to their children.

She said: “One parent who messaged me said her son was approached about ten minutes before my son at Leigh Station, with the same description.

“A lot of parents had similar stories of places like Southend Pier.

“It’s such a public area and you feel safe at 4.30 in the afternoon, you don’t expect something like that to occur.

“I’ve heard from a lot of parents they don’t feel their children are safe, even in the afternoon – what can we do to protect them?

“There were two boys out with a knife who were prepared to use it to get what they want.”

She added: “I am pleased he just handed the phone over, because it is just a phone, and it could have been worse.”

The victim claims there were lots of commuters and dog walkers around during the terrifying incident, due to the time of day. Anyone with any information should contact Essex Police at 101 or visit the force’s website at essex.police.uk.

Essex Police were contacted for comment, but did not respond before the Echo went to print yesterday.