A taxi driver was punched and racially assaulted during an attack in Stockport.

At about 4.20am on Sunday 21 September, the driver was in his Toyota Hiace minibus on Hilltop Drive, when three men got in and started to punch him in the face.

One grabbed him by the throat as they demanded money, while shouting racial abuse at the 30-year-old Asian man.

The driver was then forced out of the vehicle and punched again.

The three men eventually made off on foot with the driver's cash, PDA meter and satellite navigation system.

All three men are described as white and in their early 20s. One of them was of slim build, short hair and was wearing a white T-shirt. Another was wearing a black T-shirt.

Detective Constable Phil Hargreaves said: "This was a horrific attack on a taxi driver simply answering a call at the end of his shift.

"The offenders need to be caught for racially abusing, assaulting and stealing from their victim.

"Although there may not have been many people awake at the time, if anyone saw three men matching our description walking around the Hilltop Drive and Claremont Avenue area, please get in touch."

Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 0161 856 9985 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.