Late night revellers have been warned against travelling alone in Ipswich after robbers chased a man, punched him in the head and threatened him with a knife.

The robbery happened at around 3am on Sunday in Woodbridge Road, near to the old Odeon cinema - prompting police to urge people not to walk home alone in the early hours of the morning.

The victim, a 24-year-old man, was behind the cinema when he noticed five men near to the bus stop on the other side of the road.

One of the men crossed over and began walking with the victim, trying to talk to him. The victim then noticed the rest of the group was following and, fearing for his safety, began to run away.

The robbers caught him somewhere between the pedestrian crossing near Christchurch Street and the junction with Argyle Street.

A police spokesman said: “He was punched in the head before being threatened with a knife.

“They demanded that he gave them his phone and money, which he handed over, and they then ran away down the hill.”

The suspects are described as speaking with a foreign accent.

Suffolk police are advising people to remain vigilant, avoid walking alone in the early hours of the morning and to stay in groups where possible. “Plan your journey home and try to use a taxi or arrange for a lift where possible,” a spokesman added.

Ipswich MP Sandy Martin said he would be seeking assurances from police chiefs at his next meeting.

“I don’t want anybody to think Ipswich is a dangerous place to be at night,” he added.

Mr Martin said that people should still feel safe walking home from a restaurant before midnight - but agreed with the warning against being out alone in the early hours.

He said that while there had been problems with people being intimidated in Ipswich, it tended to involve people who were known to one another, rather than attacks from strangers.

“I’ve not heard from anyone in Ipswich, since being elected, who is frightened about the general criminality in the town, though I do know there are some older and vulnerable people who are nervous about going out alone,” he added.

“I will be having discussions with police about whether or not these robberies are a particular worry in Ipswich at the moment.”

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact South CID at Landmark House on 101 quoting reference 23053/18, or alternatively contact the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.