A 17-year-old boy was left with a cracked tooth and severe bruising when he was attacked by three youths who robbed him of his iPod music player.

The teenager was knocked to the ground as he walked in Norbury Cross at around 6pm last Thursday, November 23.

Police said he was repeatedly kicked in the head and body before robbers took his iPod.

The victim suffered a cracked tooth and was also treated for bruising to his face and ribs at Mayday Hospital.

Detective Sergeant Sean McGowan, from the priority crimes unit at South Norwood police station, said: "This was a nasty incident with gratuitous violence being meted out to an innocent victim just so they could steal his iPod."

Police need help in identifying the attackers before any further robberies are carried out.

The three suspects are described as aged around 17 years old and black. One of them had particularly prominent freckles and blemished skin which, the victim said, looked like a shaving rash. Another had braces on his teeth.

Anyone with information should call 020 8649 1217 in confidence.