UPDATE: The driver in this story has since admitting stabbing himself. Click here for more.

A driver was followed for 15 miles by a car full of men then stabbed in a road rage attack.

The 58-year-old man was tail-gated by a car with its headlights on full beam as he drove across East Sussex late on Thursday.

He pulled over and got out but was confronted and stabbed by the other driver. Detectives are treating the attack as road rage.

The victim needed hospital treatment but was later discharged. Officers said he was lucky not to have been more seriously injured.

The man, who is from Eastbourne, was driving his Honda car along the A265 towards Heathfield at 10.15pm when he spotted a red Vauxhall car behind him.

The car followed him from High Street, Heathfield, south along the A267, flashing its lights and using full-beam headlights for long periods.

The victim pulled over close to the turn-off for Hellingly. The other car also stopped and its driver and one passenger got out. A third man stayed inside.

After an argument, the Vauxhall driver stabbed him. No details of his injuries or of the weapon used have been released by Sussex Police.

The Vauxhall driver was described as white, about 6ft, aged about 20, with blond, gelled hair, wearing a dark jacket, jeans and trainers.

The car had a Heart FM sticker on the back, with an 2008 registration beginning with the letter S. Detective Inspector Neil Ralph, of Wealden CID, said: “This was a nasty attack which could have been far more serious. We are keen to catch the person responsible.”

The incident comes two months after a man was jailed for four and a half years for a road rage stabbing in Worthing.

Stephen Best, 20, admitted grievous bodily harm at Lewes Crown Court after stabbing Tamarro Troncone six times in a row over right of way.

Anyone with information about the attack on Thursday night should call Sussex Police on 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.