RETIRED postal worker Geoff Blackford is calling for the return of the birch after he was attacked by three masked thugs who stole his Range Rover worth £48,000.

The 64-year-old believes public flogging is the only way of dealing with such violent offenders who pounced on Tuesday night (March 4).

He said: "My niece said using the birch would be going down to the thieves' level but who cares. They don't care about the people they attack."

Mr Blackford was punched in the face and suffered cuts and bruising in the attack.

He had just left the home of his 94-year-old father in Agecroft Road West, Prestwich, when he was grabbed from behind by a man wearing a black balaclava.

He said: "Being grabbed was a shock but I put up a good fight with this thug. Two other men, both wearing masks, then jumped in.

"After shouting for help one of the men told me to shut up. I was hit across the jaw when I again called for help. I continued defending myself but fell to the floor. Two of the attackers held my arms while the other man searched my pockets."

His car keys and wallet containing £50 were grabbed from the floor by the robbers who jumped into the Range Rover and sped away. He bought the car just four months ago and believed the thieves had monitored his movements long before they attacked him.

He said: "My wife, Ann, and I take it in turns to look after my father, Leslie. I spend most of the day with him and my wife stays overnight. I was going back to my own house when the robbery happened."

Mr Blackford said following a growing trend for carjacking incidents, the keys to the Range Rover were modified to only unlock the driver's door.

"I have always been careful and have done everything possibly to try and prevent carjackers from taking my car," he said. "However, you cannot guard against being attacked in the street and despite putting up a good fight they still managed to steal my car.

"I don't think I'll ever see the car again. This type of vehicle is stolen to order."