A tourist was slashed with an axe in a robbery involving four men.

Police have described the incident as "peculiar" and are appealing for witnesses. The man – a passenger on the Norwegian Dawn cruise ship, suffered several cuts to the chin, head and chest in the attack, which happened as he stopped for a cigarette while out driving his rental scooter.

Detectives are currently trying to pinpoint the exact location of the robbery, which took place on the North Shore in the vicinity of Terceira's gas station, Roberts Avenue and Palmetto Road, Devonshire.

Due to the man's lack of local knowledge, they are also appealing for witnesses - in particular the dreadlocked driver of a red car who is thought to have seen the attack.

The robbery took place at around 9.30 p.m. on Tuesday as the tourist made his way towards Hamilton. The 46-year-old, from Massachusetts, said a black male approached him, aged 18-20, with a "long narrow 'droopy' face". After offering him a cigarette, the man left but returned a few minutes later with three other men.

A Bermuda Police Service spokesman said: "The subject that initially approached him then attempted to take a pouch from around his waist. At this point a struggle ensued, during which the victim was struck about the head on numerous occasions with a bladed article.

"He received several two inch lacerations about his head and abdomen. In addition, he also received a four to five inch laceration to the left side of his chin."

The men got away with a wallet containing cash and credit cards. The tourist then drove to the gas station - without a helmet, and an ambulance was called. He was treated at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital where he also received a CAT scan.

A Police source said last night: "The bladed article was a mini-axe."

Detectives yesterday appealed for information. Dwayne Caines, Bermuda Police Service spokesman, said: "Police are investigating what can only be described as a very peculiar set of circumstances.

"This incident however, is under full Police investigation. We take any attacks on our shores, but particularly on our visitors, very seriously."

Mr. Caines said the 46-year-old man, who is on holiday with his wife and two children, received "superficial wounds" which were not life-threatening.

He stressed the incident was "atypical in Bermuda" and that attacks on tourists are "not increasing".

Detectives want to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident or who saw the tourist driving his motorcycle without a helmet along North Shore. Anyone who saw anything suspicious between 9.15 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Tuesday between Terceira's gas station, Palmetto Road and Roberts Avenue is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Kuhn Evans at the Central CIU on 295 0011.

The only other description of the men involved in the robbery is of a light-brown skinned male in his forties, 6 ft 4 in tall, with "unusual" dreadlocks.