Eastleigh police are stepping up the hunt for a vicious teenage thug who hit a severely disabled man across the legs with a cricket bat after he refused to hand over cash.

As reported by the Daily Echo, 35-year-old Simon Charnley, who suffers from cerebral palsy and is confined to an electric wheelchair, was targeted in broad daylight as he made his way home along Shakespeare Road, Eastleigh.

When Simon refused the yob's demand to hand over money, the youth smashed a cricket bat across the disabled man's legs, causing sever bruising, before making off.

The attempted street robbery happened last Sunday at about 1.10pm near the Lawn Road green in Shakespeare Road.

Following the attack police praised Simon's courage, labelled the incident "despicable" and pledged that they would do everything possible to catch the person responsible.

Yesterday, police officers went back to interview Simon in a bid to build up a picture of the youth they are hunting.

A police spokesman said: "Because the victim is more vulnerable than others, we are spending a little bit more time to try to get as much information as possible from him to help lead to the apprehension of the culprit.

"Scenes of crime will be following up and trying to get the victim to produce a CD-fit of his assailant, but that will depend on how detailed a description Simon is able to give them.

"Meanwhile, community beat officers will be talking to residents and asking if they have picked up any information which may help identify the person responsible - particularly anyone who saw a teenager carrying a cricket bat."

Police are also considering putting posters in the Shakespeare Road/Boyatt Wood area appealing for information about the cowardly attack.

Simon has now been able to provide police with a description of his assailant.

The white youth police are hunting is described as 16 years old, 5ft 6in to 5ft 8in and of medium build.

He was wearing a dark-coloured cap and a dark-coloured T-shirt.

Simon was unsure about the type and colour of his attacker's trousers.

Anyone with any information which could help police is asked to contact the crimedesk at Eastleigh police station on 0845 045 4545.