Muggers left a man with fractured ribs and a collapsed lung after robbing him in an alleyway.

The 60-year-old man was walking through an alleyway between Stanborough Avenue and Cowley Hill in Borehamwood at around 1am on Saturday when he was attacked from behind by three men wearing hoodies.

The victim was knocked to the ground with a piece of wood before being kicked, leaving him with fractures to his ribs and nose, a collapsed lung and cuts and bruises to his face.

Detective Sergeant David Smith said: “I would like to firstly reassure people that this sort of attack is extremely rare and we are working hard to track down the people responsible.

“The man sustained injuries that required hospital treatment but thankfully he has now been released from hospital.

“Prior to the attack it is understood that the victim was out walking in the Leeming Road and the Aycliffe Road area and I would like to speak to anyone who may have any information is relation to this incident or who may have seen these three men who looked suspicious in the area on Saturday.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident or who may have information is asked to contact police using the non-emergency number 101.