A taxi driver needed staples in his head after he was struck with a metal object during a robbery by four male passengers in the early hours of yesterday.

The 33-year-old fought off his assailants and fled to safety at Woody's bar in Sandys after they set upon him on Seawall Drive just after 12.30 a.m. and took his cell phone.

The taxi driver told The Royal Gazette last night: "These were very young guys, 18, 19. I just wonder what's going on that causes these kids to do such things.

"I'm definitely mad and upset that the guys did what they did. I have been driving taxis about 12 years and it's the first time I have experienced something like this."

The father-of-one — who asked not to be named — said he picked up the passengers and drove them to Woody's, as they requested.

"They said they were going round the back. I took them behind Woody's and then they all got out of the car.

"Then one gentleman came from the driver's side and opened my door and started attacking me with this metal object, a bike part or something.

"I charged at him, tried to defend myself. They were trying to knock me out. I didn't want them to knock me out, that was my main thing. I was able to get the baton out of his hand. His other mate was hitting me from behind.

"When I was able to get free, I kind of ran off. I ran to Woody's and they called an ambulance."

The cabbie suffered a gash to the top of his head which needed nine staples at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

"I have got an open wound, a split head, pretty much. I didn't think they would try to set on a younger guy like me and I live in this area. I don't think they were from this area."

A Police spokesman confirmed that two an 18-year-old Warwick man and a 20-year-old Sandys parish man, were subsequently arrested.

• Witnesses or anyone with information about yesterday's robbery should call the Somerset Criminal Investigation Unit on 234-1010.