YOBS who attacked a group of teenagers in Delamere Forest before stealing their mountain bikes have been branded ‘despicable’ by police.

Just before 3pm on Sunday (May 22), three teenagers were travelling to Delamere Forest on the Chester to Manchester train when they were befriended by a group of youths.

The three 16-year-olds, who are all from the Wirral, along with three youths, reported to be aged between 13-16, later encountered each other again in the forest.

The victims were rounded on and forced to hand over their mountain bikes.

When one of the teenagers refused to surrender their bike, reportedly worth more than £3,500, he was punched in the face, while his friends’ bikes were stolen.

Inspector Phil Hodgson criticised the offenders saying they were ‘despicable yobs’ who befriended their victims before robbing them in the woods.

“This is a despicable and unprovoked attack, where the victims were travelling to a day out bike riding in the forest,” said Insp Hodgson.

“They were engaged in conversation and befriended before being lured into the forest and robbed. They are understandably shaken by the attack.

“We will find the offenders, and I advise them to hand themselves in before we track them down.”

Police are working with British Transport Police to identify the offenders who made off with three bikes worth a total of more than £5,000.

Police have released descriptions of the three offenders, who are described as: white, male, aged between 13-14 years old, around 5ft 1in tall and of a stocky build, with straight black hair; 16-year-old white male, of a stocky build with straight blond hair and a Liverpool accent and a white male, aged between 14-15 years old, 5ft 5ins tall and of a slim build, with straight strawberry blond hair.