Two women have had their mobile phones stolen by a masked thief on a bike.

The victims were targeted in the Meadows, Edinburgh, on Sunday.

The first woman was threatened and robbed by the man around 2.15am near Lonsdale Terrace.

He was last seen cycling away from the area towards Chalmers Street after taking the 22-year-old's phone.

Later that day, around 8.20pm, a 23-year-old woman had her phone stolen after being threatened near the tennis courts.

Police said they believed the two incidents were linked and that there would be high-visibility patrols in the area.

The thief is described as white, aged 18 to 25, with a Scottish accent, blue eyes and was riding a dark bicycle.

During the first incident, he was wearing a balaclava and a grey hooded top.

In the second, he was described as wearing a black hoodie with a white symbol on the left side of the chest, dark jeans and a black bandana over his face.

Detective Inspector Bruce Coutts said: "These were shocking incidents which we're currently treating as linked and, as part of our ongoing enquiries, we're urging anyone with information which may be able to help to get in touch.

"Other people were in the park at these times and are likely to have seen the suspect."

Anyone with information can call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.