A TAXI-DRIVER suffered a broken finger after being attacked by a passenger with a golf club.

Sarfraz Ahmed, 25, was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary after the incident and underwent a four-hour operation on his hand.

Chairman of Hyndburn Taxi Cab Association Mohammed Arif said, "This is a serious thing and the drivers are very angry that this happened."

The attack happened after a passenger refused to pay a £7 fare.

The assault took place in Stanley Street, Oswaldtwistle, after the man had been picked up in Church Street, Accrington.

Mr Ahmed, of Accrington, said,"He got out of the car and started shouting racial abuse at me, punched me then went into the house. When he came back out of the house he had the golf club hidden behind his back so I didn't see it at first. I really didn't expect that at all.

"It's shattered my confidence and I'm frightened of going back to work. We'll see how I feel but I don't think I will be going back.

"I have been doing this for two years and it's never happened before."

Mr Arif added, "We are doing a public service but there is no regard for drivers.

"Things like this need to be dealt with very seriously as this would then deter other people from attacking drivers."