Police are hunting for a man who brutally attacked a taxi driver in the nighttime yesterday.

The taxi driver was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for treatment for a three-inch head wound, requiring 15 stitches to close. he also suffered serious swelling and bruising to his face.

The cab driver reported he was cursed and attacked after stopping a man from getting into his car because he was wet. The man was carrying a shirt in his hand.

As the driver reached for a towel, the man hurled abuse at him and as a result the driver closed the taxi door.

The suspect allegedly struck the driver twice in his face with a bottle in a bag.

As the suspect approached him a second time, the driver went for a tyre iron in the rear of the cab for which there was a scramble.

After managing to get the tool, the suspect hit the driver twice on his head.

Two youths riding by intervened and the assailant walked off toward Somerset.

The suspect is described as five-feet, ten-inches tall, brown-skinned, approximately 22 or 23 years old, of slim build and clean shaven. The incident occurred just after midnight Anyone with information is asked to contact Western CID on 234-1010 or they can contact the confidential Crime Stoppers Hotline on 1-800-623-8477.