MOTORIST Neil Aspden was carjacked by an armed gang in Radcliffe -- just three months after his partner endured a similar terrifying ordeal outside work.

The 44-year-old electrician had just pulled up outside his home in Poolfield Close when the gang struck. He was hit on the arm with a machete and on the head with a spanner as he tried to lock the car doors .

In October, his partner, Lindsay Fretwell, (40) was attacked in the car park of Fairfield Hospital where she works as a nurse and had her car stolen.

In both cases, the couple were driving the same make of car -- a high-powered Honda Civic Type-R.

The latest incident unfolded on Sunday night after Mr Aspden had collected his step-daughter Katie (12) and her friend from the cinema.

He said: "Katie's friend had stayed the night, and we had called back at the house to pick up her overnight things before taking her home. The girls went into the house and I turned the car around at the top of the road. I parked up outside the house with the engine running and waited for the girls."

Mr Aspden noticed a group of four young men, aged between 17 and 24, across the road on the pavement.

When they drew level with the car, one of the gang members -- wearing a ski mask and carrying a large spanner -- walked across the road to the car.

Mr Aspden said: "He told me to get out of the car. I tried to use the remote central locking because the girls had left the passenger door unlocked. But before I could, a second man managed to open the door and hit me on the arm with what looked like a machete. When he raised it back again I thought he was going to hit me again.

"I knew I couldn't let him hit me again and had to get out. I tried to pull the keys out of the ignition, but they wouldn't come out. Then the first man I had seen hit me on the head with the spanner."

A third man ran from behind the car and Miss Fretwell and Katie came out of the house and both started to scream.

Mr Aspden was dragged from the car and the gang got in and drove off.

He said: "I thought about what I could do to stop them. I didn't want this happening to us again. I was worried that they could have come up to the door of the house.

"I picked up some batteries that were at the side of the house on the drive and threw them at the car, but missed.

"As they drove away, they left behind one of the men who had to chase the car to the end of the street where it stopped and let him in.

"I chased after them as well, and threw another battery but missed again. It was only then that I put my hand to my head and realised I was bleeding."

An ambulance took Mr Aspden to hospital where his head wound was stitched.

The car, registration number YS53 GHV, has not yet been traced by police.

Miss Fretwell said: "It is like a living nightmare. When it has already happened to you once, you don't think lightning will strike twice -- especially not three months later. We won't be getting the same kind of car again.

"It has had a real knock-on effect with the family. Katie wouldn't sleep in the house at all that night, and the following night, when she came back, she couldn't sleep."

She added: "It was only by chance that she went into the house with her friend. She might have been sitting in the back of the car. I dread to think what might have happened."

A gang of four masked men escaped with a high-powered Subaru in a carjacking in Ramsbottom on Saturday night. The gang pulled up in front of the car in a Lancer Evo and threatened the driver with a meat cleaver, forcing him to flee on foot. The robbery happened at 8.20pm at the junction of Irwell Street and Railway Street.