A 70-year-old taxi driver was attacked and robbed by two passengers picked up a few minutes earlier. His ordeal only ended after he was able to sound the horn to alert nearby residents, causing the assailants to flee on foot.

The driver, who comes from St. George?s, was driving along North Shore Road in Pembroke at 6.45 p.m. on Sunday when he was flagged down by the two men who indicated they needed a ride to Twin Lane Drive.

But once the taxi arrived at Twin Lane Drive and reached the top of the hill one of the men grabbed the driver around the neck, while the other suspect got out of the taxi and went to the driver?s side door and pulled the keys out of the ignition before searching the driver?s pockets and demanding money.

During the struggle the taxi driver managed to sound the vehicle?s horn, which alerted nearby neighbours.

One of the assailants hit the 70 year old on the back of head before both suspects fled on foot.

Residents gave assistance to the taxi driver, who was later treated at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for soreness to the back of his head before being released. One of the suspects was a light-skinned man of average build, 5ft 3in,l with a close haircut. The other was dark-skinned and about 5ft 4in.

Both men were wearing dark jackets and long dark trousers.

Witnesses should contact Hamilton Criminal Investigation Unit on 295-0011.