A driver had a lucky escape after he fought off two hooded men who tried to hijack his car.

The plucky victim was approached by his assailants who demanded he hand over his keys as he pulled up to a petrol station in Bergholt Road, Braiswick.

One of the men got in the passenger seat of the car and shouted at him to hand over his keys while the other man barked orders through the driver's-side window.

He was punched in the ear and about the face, but failed to give in to the demands, and the suspects gave up and ran away from the scene on foot.

A police spokesman said: "This appears to have been an unprovoked and violent attack, and the man was lucky to not have been seriously injured."

The incident, which happened about 8.20pm on Monday, comes only weeks after a woman had her Mini Cooper car stolen after she was punched in the face and robbed of her keys outside her flat in Tuffnell Way, Colchester on March 16.

Police are not linking the incidents.

  • Anyone with information is asked to call Colchester police on 01206 762212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.