A driver was attacked in an attempted hijacking when he stopped after a woman holding a baby stepped into the path of his car.

The 18-year-old driver stopped his red Ford Escort in Rectory Lane, Ashington.

A man approached the car, punched the rear window, then asked the driver if the couple could borrow the car to take their ill baby to hospital.

He said their vehicle had broken down.

When the driver refused, the man punched him twice in the head and three times in the face before taking his keys from the ignition.

The woman handed the baby to the man and slapped the driver several times in the face.

The male attacker pretended to throw the car keys into a field.

A white car pulled up and its occupant asked why the driver had stopped.

When he explained, the driver of the white car got into a heated argument with the attacker and got the keys back.

The victim, suffering cuts and bruises, restarted his car and drove away.

PC Paul Chuter, of Pulborough police, said: "Thanks to the actions of this conscientious member of the public both the victim and the car were made safe.

"We would like to speak to this man and any other people who may have witnessed what happened."

The woman is described as 30, 5ft 6in, medium build, with dark wavy, collar-length hair, wearing a sweatshirt.

The man she was with was about 35, 5ft 10in, stocky, with short dark hair and wearing a sweatshirt.