A SHOP worker was chased and attacked and a teenager punched in the face and robbed in two separate incidents in Ely city centre on Friday. Both attacks were carried out by youths outside the Spar shop in the High Street. The 28-year-old shop supervisor w

A SHOP worker was chased and attacked and a teenager punched in the face and robbed in two separate incidents in Ely city centre on Friday.

Both attacks were carried out by youths outside the Spar shop in the High Street.

The 28-year-old shop supervisor was approached by a gang of six youths, who were hanging about outside the store as he and a 37-year-old female colleague were locking up the shop at around 10.05pm.

One of the youths kicked him in an unprovoked assault but the man fought back, pushing over his attacker.

The pair ran to his partner's car parked further along the High Street but three of the gang chased them and when they caught up with them punched the man in the face.

They managed to jump into the waiting car, a grey Vauxhall Corsa, but the youths continued to chase after them, kicking the car and smashing off the wing mirror.

The victim suffered injuries to his leg and face.

In the other incident at about 4.30pm a 16-year-old boy was punched in the face after being approached by a youth who demanded money and then stole his Ipod before escaping.

The victim managed to run to the King's School, and alerted police.

His attacker is described as of mixed race, about five feet 11 inches tall, with short black curly hair, and wearing a light brown top. He is thought to be about the same age as his victim.

Two of the youths involved in the attack on the shop supervisor are described as white, aged 16 or 17 and 5'9" tall.

One of the youths is also described as slim, wearing a dark blue tracksuit and baseball cap. The second youth had short dark hair and was wearing a white or cream jumper, blue jeans and trainers.

Now detectives have appealed for witnesses to both attacks and officers have collected CCTV footage from Spar staff after the camera captured the attack on the shop worker.

Ely Police Pc Dan Botterill, investigating, said of the attack on the shop supervisor and his colleague: "This was a nasty incident which left the man, his partner and his colleague, frightened and distressed."

INFO: Anyone with information should contact Pc Botterill at Ely Police Station on 0845 456 456 4, or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.