AN 11-year-old boy was pushed to the ground during the "shocking" robbery of a £20,000 sports car at Grafton Manor Hotel.

The youngster, a wedding reception guest at the Grafton Lane venue, was collecting photographs from his grandfather's sports car with another boy when he was pushed over by a youth who snatched the keys and drove off.

The incident happened at around 8.30pm on Saturday night after the youth, in a white Vauxhall Astra, pulled up beside the child and his seven-year-old relative when they were standing near the silver Mazda Exedos.

He drove off in the stolen car followed by his accomplice in the Astra -- both were later spotted near the Mount School, in Birmingham Road, heading towards the M42 island.

It was being used as a wedding car and had ribbons tied to it which a witness later saw being ripped off near the island.

The cars were then seen to turn right off the A38 onto the Old Birmingham Road, known locally as Learner's Mile.

Bromsgrove police's PC Mick Morton said: "This was a shocking experience for the two youngsters and we would like to hear from anyone who may have seen the car driving off from the hotel car park.

"It would have been quite distinctive, being a silver sports car with wedding ribbons on."

The children were shaken but uninjured, according to police.

The Astra was stolen from the Merry Hill Centre, in Dudley, earlier in the day.

As the Advertiser/Messenger went to press neither car had been recovered.

Anyone with information should call Bromsgrove police on (01527) 584888 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.