A TAXI driver has told how he feared for his life after he was punched in the face in a racially motivated attack.

Father-of-four Mohammad Hayat was attacked in his Vauxhall Vectra taxi after dropping a fare off in Morse Street, Burnley, on Saturday April 19.

The 39-year-old was left with a bleeding nose, grazes and cuts after the incident on the corner of Lyndhurst Road and Lebanon Street at 1.15am.

Police said they are investigating the unprovoked' attack as racially motivated and have appealed for witnesses after one man was arrested but released without charge.

Mr Hayat pulled up to the junction to turn left when a man standing outside a silver Volkswagon Polo on the wrong side of the road kicked his car.

The man racially abused the former caterer after Mr Hayat threatened to take down the parked car's registration number and pass it onto the police.

One of the men, standing in between the two cars, punched Mr Hayat in the face after a gang of gang five or six, some from inside the car, shouted racial abuse at him.

Mr Hayat, who works for Kings Taxis, in Burnley, said: "I heard a big bang and realised that he had kicked the driver's side.

"I asked him why had he done it and he shouted racist abuse at me.

"I told them I would take their car registration number down and report them to the police.

"Some of them came out of the car and came towards my car. One punched me in the face.

"I heard my car rock because they were thumping it. I got the registration number and drove round the corner.

"There was blood coming out of my nose.

"I was scared for my life. They attacked me without any reason."

Mr Hayat, who has been left with a black eye and a swollen nose, said he would carry on working as a taxi driver but that his wife and four kids, aged two, four, six and 18 were worried for his safety.

He said: "My family are worried about me driving but what can you do.

"I still have to work and earn a living."

DC Andy Ashworth said: "This was a completely unprovoked attack.

"Attacks against taxi drivers will not be tolerated and anyone with information should contact us straight away."

Anyone with information should contact Burnley CID on 01282 472272 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.