Cabbie hospitalised by car thief

A taxi driver was taken to hospital after he was attacked by a passenger who stole his car, catching the driver with a glancing blow as he drove off.

The man had asked the driver to pull over before demanding money. A fight began and the driver was hit on the head before he got out of the car.

Police are appealing for witnesses after the incident in Kirkham, Lancashire, on Tuesday evening.

The man is white, 5ft 10ins tall, and had an east Lancashire accent.

Detained in hospital

He also wore a black woolly hat and a bomber jacket.

The driver, who is local and aged in his mid 50s, suffered cuts to his head and bruising to his upper body in the incident, which happened just after 2200 BST.

He was detained in hospital overnight.

The white Ford Mondeo taxi, with the registration number S581 XCA, has not yet been found.

Witnesses or anyone with information is asked to contact police or anonymously via Crimestoppers.