Elderly men punched and robbed in Sydney

A man has been arrested after two elderly men were punched in the face and robbed of their wallets by a gang of youths in Sydney's west.

Police say the men aged in their seventies were walking along John Street in Lidcombe at about 12.15am this morning when they noticed they were being followed by four to six youths.

When the men turned into Yarram Street, the youths approached them and allegedly punched both in the face before stealing their wallets and fleeing.

Police responded quickly, making arrests at Chidwick Reserve and Lidcombe Railway Station.

Those arrested were questioned before being released pending further investigations but an 18-year-old man was detained in custody and is expected to be charged over the assaults and robbery.

Police are seeking a number of youths described as being of Pacific Islander/Maori appearance and are appealing to anyone with information about the incident to come forward.

The two elderly men were treated at the scene for minor facial injuries and did not require hospitalisation.