A TAXI driver was dragged from his car and “viciously” attacked by four knife-wielding men.

The 38-year-old received cuts to his face and body, along with bruising, during what police believe was a late-night pre-planned attack.

The cabbie was driving an man down Portland Street, in Nelson, when he was attacked from behind by the passenger.

And when he stopped the car, he was pounced on by three other men who dragged him from his silver Vauxhall Astra estate and lunged at him with knives and a ‘blunt instrument’, police said.

The terrified driver was left with a deep cut on his cheek, lacerations to his chest and bruising to his body.

Last night, he was recovering at the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Det Insp Derek Jones, from Pendle CID, said: “This was a really vicious, prolonged and nasty attack by four men.

“The victim has been left very shaken up by the ordeal and he received severe injuries in the incident.”

Detectives are now investigating the possible motive for the attack.

They believe it was pre-planned as the taxi driver was not robbed of his takings.

A 25-year-old man was arrested following the incident at around 10pm on Friday but he later released on police bail.

Officers also spent yesterday quizzing a 34-year-old man in connection with the incident.

Mr Jones added: “We are now appealing for any witnesses who were in the Portland Street area on Friday night.

“Anybody there at the time would have known what was going on and if anyone else saw any suspicious activity prior to the attack we would like to hear from them.”

Police said all the attackers were Asian but did not release further descriptions.

Anyone with information should contact Pendle CID on 01282 472643 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

The incident is the latest in a string of recent attacks on taxi drivers across East Lancashire.

Earlier this year, Mohammed Arif, chairman of the Burnley Private Taxi Association, called on police and council bosses to offer more protection to cabbies.