A COURAGEOUS Romanian lorry driver, who drove 2,000 miles to Burnley to pick up a delivery, was dragged 150 yards as he hung on to a getaway car to stop thieves making off with his mobile phone.

And last night the police officer investigating the incident slammed the thieves saying the victim would remember his visit to Burnley for all the wrong reasons.

The 42 year-old trucker, who doesn't speak good English, had approached the driver of a car in Wiseman Street at 7.30am on Monday to ask for directions.

The driver said he didn't know where the premises were and drove off, but returned a short time later with a passenger.

Both men summoned the victim over to the car to offer him directions before snatching his mobile phone and driving off at speed.

The plucky trucker grabbed hold of the passenger side window and kept hold of it as he was dragged 150 yards along Wiseman Street near to Oakmount Mill.

The men panicked as the car reached St James's Street and threw the mobile phone out of the window.

The trucker then let go of the window which caused him to tumble to the ground.

Detectives leading the hunt have described the incident as despicable and are urging witnesses to come forward.

Detective Sergeant Derek Jones said: "He was trying to pick up a delivery but couldn't find the premises.

"He didn't speak very good English so he approached what he has described as a faded red car and asked the driver for directions using his phone to show the person where he was trying to go.

"The car then drove off but later returned with an additional front-seat passenger.

"Both males summoned him over to their car to offer him directions before snatching his phone."

A spokeswoman for Oakmount Mill shop said: "We were all shocked when we heard about what had happened.

"This person must have been terrified to be in a different country and be subjected to something like this. It is appalling."

The man was taken to Burnley General Hospital for treatment to injuries to his feet, legs and arms, before making his way back to Romania later that day.

DS Jones added: "This is a despicable crime against a vulnerable foreign person who was just trying to do his job.

"We are keen to catch the two offenders.

"We have spoken to a few witnesses who seem to think the car was a blue Vauxhall rather than a faded red car which is why we need to trace more witnesses."

The driver is described as a white male in his early 20s, with a long face, short brown unkempt hair, with a scab the size of a 50p piece on the side of his lip.

"The passenger is also a white male in his 20s, with short black hair, a pale complexion and a round face.

Anyone with any information about the incident should contact Burnley CID on 01282 472144 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.