A WOMAN was threatened at knifepoint as she sat in her car waiting for traffic lights to change in Blackpool.

The 43-year-old woman had stopped at Lytham Road lights at 9.30pm on Monday night (April 15) when the passenger door was flung open and a young man leaned into the car, brandishing a long-bladed knife and demanding cash.

When the woman said she had no money, he became extremely agitated and slashed out with the knife, cutting her coatsleeve before running off.

She was left extremely shaken by the incident, but managed to get away unhurt.

Her attacker is described as 5ft 9ins, in his late teens with shoulder-length straight, dark hair.

He was wearing a red jacket with black collar and cuffs, dark blue jeans and trainers and was accompanied by another man also in his late teens, with a baby face and short blond hair. He was wearing a denim jacket, jeans and trainers.

Police are linking this crime with an earlier incident in Blackpool when two schoolboys, aged 14 and 15, were robbed at knifepoint on Central Drive.

The robbery happened at 1.50pm on Monday (April 15) and is believed to have been carried out by the same two men, accompanied by a third who is described as 6ft, aged 16 and wearing a black cap and two earrings in his left ear. The boys made off with £17.

Detective Sergeant Barry Oldham, of Blackpool CID, said: "These two robberies are undoubtedly connected as there is a strong similarity in the descriptions of the offenders and the type of offence."

If anyone has any information they should contact Blackpool police on 293933, or DS Oldham on 745126.

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