THREE men from Minehead have been arrested following what police have described as a "violent and premeditated" attack on the town's beach.

Two local men were the victims of a robbery and assault which took place at about 1am on Tuesday.

The three suspects, aged 23, 20 and 19, were seen speaking to the victims in a local bar earlier in the evening.

They are then alleged to have walked with them to the beach where they attacked and robbed them, stealing items including cash, a mobile phone and wallet.

The three were arrested shortly after the incident and taken to Minehead police station for questioning.

They have since been bailed while police investigations continue.

One of the victims suffered a head injury but neither men needed hospital treatment.

West Somerset police chief, Inspector Lisa Simpson said that although it was a violent and premeditated crime, it was fortunately a very rare event in the district.

"The offenders targeted their victims and made sure they were in a vulnerable situation and robbed them," she said.

"However, I am glad to say that this is an isolated incident and extremely unusual in this area."

She added: "Minehead is a safe place to live, work and visit."

In the past year police say they only had one report of robbery or crime similar to the recent incident and it was detected and dealt with quickly

"In this case the offenders were arrested within minutes of the incident," said Inspector Simpson.

"We work hard to prevent violent crime such as this and work with local businesses and residents to make sure that the night time economy in Minehead can be enjoyed safely and responsibly.

"We plan our work to deal with the increase in population during the summer season, including an increased police presence and patrols at key times, particularly during the evening and late night licensing hours.

"Local residents should be reassured that they are highly unlikely to be victims of robbery in this area and by using simple personal safety advice they can minimise their personal risk."

Police advice includes warning people not to go off alone with strangers, particularly to isolated places and to avoid drinking too much alcohol, which can increase vulnerability.

Officers say people should always let someone know where they are going and arrange transport home in advance by booking a taxi or organising a lift with a friend or family member.

And there is also a warning against "flashing cash" or mobile phones, with advice to keep their use discreet.