BURY businessman Phil Enion did everything possible to beat the car-jackers. But it didn't stop him losing his £30,000 Mercedes when he stopped to take a call on his mobile.

It is the latest in a worrying series of daring car-jackings in the Bury area in which men and women drivers have been assaulted and dragged from their expensive cars, often on their own driveways or when stopped at traffic lights.

Usually the armed car thieves work in teams, using a back-up vehicle.

On Monday afternoon self-employed consultant Mr Enion was returning from a business meeting in Oldham when he stopped on Roach Bank Road at Pilsworth to take a phone call.

Mr Enion (39) explained: "I was sitting in the car when I was approached by an Asian youth. I had seen him walking along the road but there was nothing about him to raise my suspicions.

"He asked for a light for a cigarette. He was not nervous and was very relaxed and calm. I didn't sense anything was wrong.

"As I turned my back to get my lighter, he grabbed hold of me and dragged me out. The next thing I knew he was driving off with my car, followed by two other youths in a white van. It happened so quickly; I didn't have time to fight back."

Having read of similar hijackings, and fearing they may be targets themselves, Mr Enion and his wife, Jill, have been alternating the use of their high-performance Merc and BMW and have frequently changed their routes.

"We have tried to minimise the risk but it all seems a bit pointless now," said Mr Enion, who lives in Tottington and runs a health, safety and law employment consultancy firm in Bury.

"It is hard to beat people who are so determined to steal cars, and these thieves were very determined. It happened in a matter of seconds. Now I am always wary. The following day I kept looking in the rear view mirror, checking who was behind me.

"I have spent the last eight years building up my business. One of the rewards is to drive a nice car, but I don't feel as though I can do that now."

Police are appealing for witnesses to help trace the offenders, who are all described as Asian males. The main thief is said to be in his late teens or early 20s, slim with short dark hair and wore a dark fleece jacket and dark tracksuit bottoms with two stripes down the leg. The second offender, who was standing near the van, had short dark hair and wore a white hooded jacket. A third man was driving the white van. Contact Bury CID on 0161 856 8150 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.