A TERRIFIED lorry driver was snatched from his sleeper cab by thieves who bundled him into the boot of a car, beat him up stole his cargo of televisions and torched his tractor unit and trailers.

The Polish driver was woken while asleep in his lorry on Kid Glove Road at Golborne.

He was forced into the boot of a car and driven two miles away to High Field Farm in Newton-le-Willows where he was beaten up and abandoned.

Merseyside Police rescued the victim in Parkside Road and took him back to Golborne but his cab and trailers were gone and later found burnt out on Leigh Croft Road, at Birchwood.

The victim believes he was put into the boot of a silver Honda Civic, and that a silver Mondeo may have been involved as well.

The Mercedes truck, registration number WX 13018, and the two trailer units had 'Euroad' written on the side of them. The trailers had the registration WX 376 AE and were transporting a large number of silver 25" Phillips brand televisions.

Detective Constable Mick Bates said: "The victim in this crime was put through a terrifying ordeal before he was released. I would ask anyone who saw something suspicious in these areas or has been offered a television similar in description to those stolen to call Leigh CID on 0161 856 7746 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."