A man had a stinging liquid containing chilli powder thrown in his eyes and was hit over the head by two robbers who made off with a laptop he was trying to sell online.

The 40-year-old victim needed hospital treatment after a liquid later identified as a fizzy soft drink mixed with chilli powder was thrown into his face.

The man was attacked by two men who had come to his home in Towersey Drive, Thame, to look at an Apple Macbook he was selling using the Gumtree website. The laptop was stolen during the incident, which happened at 7pm on Monday, March 23.

Thames Valley Police has launched an appeal for information - and issued a warning to residents about the dangers of selling items online.

Investigating officer DS Peter Scott said: "We’d like to reassure the public that incidents such as these are very rare, and there have been no similar reported incidents.

"The victim was selling their belongings through an online site, and we’d encourage people who are interested in doing this to meet up with your potential buyer in a public place where lots of people will be around, tell people where and when you are meeting the buyer, and to leave if you feel uncomfortable at any time."

The two robbers are described as white, in their twenties and wore jeans and bomber jackets.

Anyone with information can contact the Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 101, or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.