A 59-year-old private hire car driver had a knife put to his throat by a man trying to rob him.

Police say the driver picked up a passenger at Tesco Extra in Westwood, near Broadstairs, and was instructed to take him to Chatham Street, Ramsgate, but this was later changed to Belmont Road.

When the driver stopped there at about 3.45am on Tuesday, the passenger took a knife from his pocket and demanded he hand over cash.

As the man was half out of the car, the driver accelerated, causing him to fall out. The man then ran off toward Park Road.

The driver was uninjured and nothing was taken.

The attacker is in his mid 20s, about 6ft tall, average build, with short or shaven black hair, and was wearing a navy blue t-shirt and shorts.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information is asked to contact Det Con Sara Jackson at Margate police station on 01843 222069.