Pair pictured as hunt continues for thugs who left taxi driver with cracked cheekbone

Ahmed Iqbal, 47, was driving home three men from Preston city centre to Walkden when one of them reached through from the backseat and put the car’s gearstick in reverse, stalling the car in the early hours of Saturday morning, he said.

The cabbie said he was punched in the side of his face as he turned around, before the three men exited the taxi in Church Street, opened the driver's door, and attacked him again.

Mr Iqbal managed to drive away, and was kept overnight at Royal Preston Hospital for treatment for facial injuries.

He later said: "I remember thinking that if I stay here, they are going to kill me."

In a statement released today, Lancashire Police said the taxi had two passengers on board when the attack happened, shortly before 3.40am, on the dual carriageway close to Riversway.

PC Katie Abbott, of Preston Police, said: "This incident left a taxi driver, simply going about his work, with some nasty injuries.

"We would now like to speak to the two men in the attached CCTV image as we believe they may be able to help with our enquiries.”

Anybody with information was asked to contact police on 101, quoting log number 271 of August 5.