THREE men are being hunted by police after a businessman was robbed in broad daylight near Torquay harbourside yesterday.

He was punched to the ground by the trio who then snatched hundreds of pounds in cash takings from him together with a digital camera.

The offenders pounced on him near the entrance to the Fleet Walk car park just before 10am.

The victim suffered injuries to the face and lost a tooth during the attack.

A police spokesman confirmed that the businessman was carrying a large quantity of cash, believed to be the weekend takings of a property letting agency.

Paramedics were not needed at the scene, although the injured man was due to attend Torbay Hospital after his ordeal.

He was able to walk back to his office and alert the police.

The police spokesman said the men struck at the bottom of the steps which lead from Rock Road to the car park.

He added: "The man was injured, but not sufficiently for him to require an ambulance. He was expecting to attend hospital later.

"He was hit in the mouth, hit his head in the fall and lost a tooth," said the spokesman, who would not reveal the amount of money stolen except to say it ran into hundreds of pounds.

One of the offenders was described as speaking with a Birmingham accent. He was about 6ft 2ins tall, stockily built and in his mid to late 30s.

He had dark, spiky hair, was unshaven and wore a dark brown leather jacket and dark jeans.

His two accomplices were said to be shorter. One of them had a shaven head and was wearing a white T-shirt and jeans.

Anyone with information should contact police on 08452 777444.