A TAXI driver has been attacked following a row with a passenger in the early hours of the morning.

The 26-year-old taxi driver was assaulted in his taxi near to Wilkinsons on Victoria Road, Hartlepool at 2.30am on Saturday, January 2.

The driver had picked up two men and two women, who became abusive towards him. After a verbal altercation the driver was then assaulted by one of the men.

The suspect is described as white in his early 20s. He was approximately 5ft 9ins tall and of medium build and was wearing a black T-shirt with a pattern or writing on the front and white jogging bottoms.

The suspect ran down towards Church Street and was last seen going into the Loft nightclub.

The taxi driver received no major injuries and did not require any treatment.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is asked to contact PC Jonathan Ryan at Hartlepool Police on 01642-302 178.