VILE thugs held an elderly man's face against a wall to go through his pockets during a New Year's Day robbery.

Detectives are hunting for the callous muggers who struck following the robbery in Troon on Tuesday at around 11.30pm.

The force said that the 74-year-old victim was walking along Templehill, Troon when two men approached him from the rear, struck him and held his face against the wall whilst going through his pockets.

The men then left the man with abrasions to his face and ran off with a quantity of money.

The two men were seen to be running in the direction of Templehill, Troon

Detective Sergeant Jane Hogg, at Ayr CID, said: “I am appealing to the public to ask anyone who either witnessed the event or has information about it to contact police.

"I would also ask motorists including taxi drivers to consider whether they were in the area at this time and ask that if they witnessed the event or have dash-cam footage that they also contact us.

"Enquires are still ongoing and it is important that we do everything we can to catch the men responsible."

Any information should be passed to police at Ayr CID via telephone number 101 quoting incident number 2422 of Wednesday 2 January 2019. Alternatively calls can be made to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where anonymity can be maintained.