DETECTIVES have stepped up their hunt for a gang of teenagers who have attacked four milkmen, leaving one seriously injured in hospital.

The latest assault happened in Hayes Lane, Bromley, when a 32-year-old delivery driver was temporarily blinded by a fire extinguisher sprayed in his face.

The man was attacked in Hayes Lane, Bromley, while delivering milk to a BMW garage, in Hayes, between 2am and 3.10am, on Monday, December 5.

The father-of-two, who did not want to be identified, said: “I was in sheer panic. I couldn’t see a thing. I thought, 'they’re going to come back for me,’ so I got back on the float. They came alongside and sprayed the float with the fire extinguisher.”

He added: “I’ve had to have one of my colleagues with me since then. Everyone’s worried; it’s a nightmare.”

Insp Paul Etheridge , of Bromley police, said: “He was approached by two suspects who asked how much the milk cost. He said they could take some. One of them took a bottle of milk and one took a bottle of orange juice.”

The two youths, described as 16-year-olds, one white, one black, then walked away. Moments later, a maroon Vauxhall Cavalier pulled up beside the milkfloat and one of four or five youths sprayed a fire extinguisher in the victim’s face.

Insp Etheridge said: “The car drove off, then came back and the same suspect sprayed the milkfloat with the fire extinguisher. They then drove off.”

Detectives have linked the attack to three previous assaults in the borough.

* Anyone with information about the attacks should call Det Sgt Dave Brown on 020 8284 8785 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. If you witness a similar attack, ring 999.

Milkmen at Dairy Crest’s Orpington depot say they are afraid to go out on early morning rounds alone.

One employee said: “It’s horrendous what they’ve done. If they’re doing this to blokes, how do you know they won’t attack a woman in the street?”

The company said it was in close contact with police. Chris Munn , marketing controller for Dairy Crest, said: “We are very concerned for those staff and their families involved in the attacks, and offer them our support and sympathy.

“Dairy Crest works with its employees on an ongoing basis to minimise risks to them."