AN ASIAN taxi driver has relived the moment he was hit over the head with a brick in a sickening racist attack.

Vicious thugs stole £470 from Mustafa Ghulam and left him drenched in blood.

The Pakistan-born dad-of-four said the attack, which happened at 2.30am on Saturday on School Road in Winsford, forced him to consider quitting the business.

Mr Ghulam, 36, told the Chronicle: 'I've had racial abuse before but I've never been attacked like this.

'I was scared to go back to work and sometimes I think I should do something else for a living. Arguments are a part of life but this is totally wrong - I'm still in shock.'

The trouble began when Mr Ghulam, who runs his own firm, GM Travel, picked up a gang of five from a bar.

He said: 'I knew the group of lads - they've used my taxi before and they did a runner without paying. They said they would do the same again, so I knew their intentions and told them to behave themselves.

'I'd already dropped off three lads and there were two left - they started to racially abuse me so I stopped the car and threatened to ring the police.

'Next thing I knew they grabbed me, dragged me out of the taxi and punched me 10 times in the face. My lips are still swollen.

'I had £470 of my own savings with me in cash that I'd forgotten to take to the bank that day. The money fell out of my pocket and when they saw it one of them grabbed a brick from a garden nearby and hit me over the head with it.

'I fell down and had blood all down my shirt. I was shivering and trembling and they managed to get away.'

Mr Ghulam was rescued by fellow taxi drivers who rang 999. He was taken to Leighton Hospital.

Business watch officer Robin Curry, who runs Winsford's Travel Safe scheme designed to protect taxi drivers from violence, said: 'We find this sort of incident very worrying and the purpose of the group is to prevent violent attacks.

'When whoever is responsible is identified we will make sure they are banned from all public transport in Winsford.'

Det Sgt Dave Snasdell, of Winsford police, said no arrests had yet been made.

He added: 'Police are continuing with their enquiries and anyone with information should call DC Steve Jackson on 01244 613259.'