THREE thugs threatened to shoot a 16-year-old boy if he did not hand over his mobile phone.

The teenager was waiting for a bus at Moor Lane Bus Station at around 9.15pm last Friday when he was approached by three teenage boys who asked to use his phone.

When he refused they moved away and the victim heard them saying to each other that they were going to take his phone.

They came back and one of them said: “Either give us your phone or we'll shoot you,” and “is it worth your life for your phone”.

The boy fled and did not see the thugs again. It is not clear if the gang was armed with a gun.

The three robbers were white, aged 17 or 18, slim, and about 5ft 10ins tall.

One was wearing a black hooded top, one a Nike tracksuit, and the third had a black left eye, was cut across the bridge of his nose and had crooked teeth.

Anyone with any information is asked to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.