A MOTORIST was beaten with a baseball bat and attacked with a knife by two thugs after his car was rammed from behind.

The 38-year-old escaped with minor injuries in Monday's incident which police are treating as an attempted robbery.

Police say the victim was travelling along Bury New Road in Prestwich when a blue S-registered Audi hit the rear of his Toyota Carina.

The driver stopped the car near to Butterstile Lane and one of the men got out of the Audi and smashed the Carina driver's window with a baseball bat.

The victim was grabbed through the window and hit with the bat. The second thug approached the car, produced a knife and also began attacking the driver.

After a brief struggle, the pair ran back to the Audi and drove off empty handed. The injured man did not require hospital treatment following the assault which happened between 2pm and 3pm.

PC Stephen Raine, of Bury Police, said: "We believe that the victims car was deliberately hit so as to get him to stop. This lad is more than 6ft tall and after getting involved in the scuffle, the two offenders made off."

Anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has any information, is asked to contact Det Con Chris Jameson at Bury police operational support unit on 856 8093 or freephone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.