A MAN was held up and robbed at knifepoint by three youths in the centre of Abingdon in broad daylight.

They stole his bank card and medication and during the incident snapped his walking stick in two.

Police have issued en e-fit of one of the men who held up the 62-year-old man from Abingdon, who had been to collect tablets from a chemist and was returning to his car in the car park near the Vale of White Horse District Council's offices in Abbey Close.

He was surrounded by three men at about 10am last Monday.

They threatened him with a large knife that had a five-inch long blade and demanded money.

The youths rifled through the man's wallet taking a bank card and stole his medication but no cash was involved. The robbers broke the man's walking stick telling him that he wouldn't be able to follow them. They ran off with the bank card and tablets and are believed to have made their escape in a vehicle parked nearby.

All three men were said to be about 20 years old. One was white, well built and about 6ft tall. He was wearing a yellow, blue and red hat, and was holding a knife. Another man was black, thin, with afro-hair in dreadlocks and bushy eyebrows which were possibly bleached. He was wearing jeans and a dark blue T-shirt. The third man was black, of average build with short dark hair. He was in jeans and had a dark hooded top and trainers.

Police say a black van was seen prior to the incident being driven in a suspicious manner in front of the Waitrose store in Abbey Close. It was a busy time of the day and police believe someone must have seen the robbery.

Det Con Jon Shaw, of Abingdon CID, said: "Fortunately the man was not injured but was very shaken by the incident. It was a frightening experience for him. We are appealing to anyone who saw what happened to come forward."

Det Con Shaw can be contacted via 0845 8 505 505, or if witnesses do not wish to speak to the police or identify themselves, call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.