Man dragged on front of stolen van

A man is seriously ill in hospital after being dragged along on the front of his van as he tried to stop it being stolen in east London.

The driver, thought to be in his late 50s, had only just got out of the van at a garage in Shirley Street, Canning Town when another man jumped in and reversed the van out.

The thief ignored the driver as he stepped out in front of the van at 1130 BST on Monday and drove off as he clung to the front of the van.

After being dragged 20 yards (18 metres) the driver lost his grip and fell to the ground, injuring his back, chest and legs.

He is in a serious but stable condition at Newham General Hospital.

The van was a box-style Toyota with Allway Car Care written down the side.

The suspect was black, stocky, aged in his late 30s with dark hair which was greying at the sides.

Police are keen to speak to anyone who saw what happened.