A QUICK-thinking motorist foiled an armed car-jacker by locking him in his car and running off with the keys.

The man had stopped at traffic lights in Casterton Avenue, Burnley, at the junction with Colne Road, at just before 1pm, on Saturday.

An thug brandishing six-inch hunting knife then approached his four-year-old Ford Focus and demanded he hand the vehicle over.

The victim, a 27-year-old man from Burnley, got out of car and let the offender get in.

But then he used his remote key fob to lock the car-jacker in the vehicle, before running from the scene and calling police.

Witnesses told police that a man tried to force open the doors of the car using a metal implement, but failed.

He then smashed a window and manually opened the car. He them climbed out the and ran off into the hospital grounds.

Officers say they are not sure if the helper was an accomplice or an unwitting member of the public and would like to hear from him.

An area search was carried out but the offender and the helper were not found.

Detective Constable Shaun Juriansz, from Burnley CID, said: "The man was extremely shaken about the matter.

"It was totally unexpected and he was very frightened and feared for his own personal safety.

"He did not want the offender to get away with the car and wanted to keep him there until the police arrived.

"He did the right thing in getting out as quickly as he could and taking his keys.

"There were two silver vehicles at the scene, one driven by an Asian male and one by a white male and we would like them to come forward."

DC Juriansz said there was nothing to suggest the offender was running away from the scene of another crime and it was not being linked to any other incidents.

The offender was described as an Asian man in his late 20s to early 30s, approximately 5ft 10in tall, of a medium build and with short black hair, with a well-trimmed beard and moustache and was wearing a black baseball cap, a black jacket and dark trousers and had a local accent.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Sergeant Stuart Dixon at Burnley CID on 01282 427144.