Police are appealing for witnesses after a man, 69, was robbed by a gang of audacious youths as he withdrew money from a cashpoint.

Four 25 to 28-year-olds tricked the card’s owner by leaping in front of him and claiming the machine wasn’t working while pressing a number of buttons before making off with hundreds of pounds and the bank card.

The man, who did not wish to be named, said two separate amounts were also withdrawn from the account, one of £999 and another of £898, soon after the theft at around 2pm on Wednesday, January 30 in Wangey Road, Chadwell Heath.

The victim said: “I was at the cash machine and the man who was pretending to wait behind me came up and said ‘uncle, it’s not working’.

“Suddenly the girls and boys were around me and he was pressing the enter and cancel buttons and said the machine had taken the card.”

The victim, from Romford, said he left the gang at the Tesco Express cashpoint and went into the store to call police.

“I only knew the money was taken when I got a print out from the bank saying £300 was gone,” he added. “I want to warn other people because it could happen again.”

No arrests have been made although the victim’s bank has replaced the stolen cash. Police are looking for two men and two women, all of Asian appearance and in their mid-to-late twenties.

An investigation is under way and any witnesses to the incident or anyone with information is urged to call Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting reference number CR4402273/13.