Car owner 'dragged down street'

A man was dragged 80 yards down a Barnsley road as he tried in vain to stop a robber stealing his car.

Robert Johnson, 61, was left cut, bruised and bleeding after the incident in Highstone Lane on Wednesday night.

He had got out of his silver Rover to speak to a neighbour when the thief struck at about 2320 GMT.

Mr Johnson grabbed hold of the driver's door but was dragged down the street when the man inside accelerated towards Ward Green.

Lost grip

South Yorkshire Police said a parked car was damaged by Mr Johnson's body as he was pulled along.

However, he escaped serious injury in the incident, a police spokeswoman added.

Mr Johnson, who is chairman of his local Neighbourhood Watch group, only let go of his car after losing his grip on the door.

The suspect is described as a white man in his mid-20s, 5ft 10ins tall, with a stocky build and thick, dark bushy hair.

Police are appealing for witnesses.