POLICE are appealing for help in tracing a red van involved in a serious road rage incident on the A21 in Kent.

A 40-year-old driver received facial injuries, including cuts to his eyeball and glass embedded in his cheek.

The incident occurred at about 6.10am on Thursday. The driver of a white Ford Iveco refrigerated 7.5 tonne lorry rang police to report his windscreen had been smashed by an object he believes was thrown from another vehicle.

A Kent Police spokeswoman said: "The lorry was travelling northbound along the A21 in the Sevenoaks area, after Morleys roundabout, where the three-lane section narrows back to two lanes.

"The driver pulled out to overtake a car. When he pulled back in, a red van came alongside him and he became aware of the passenger in the van shouting at him.

"He did not respond but as the van pulled ahead of him his windscreen shattered when an object hit the glass."

The lorry driver, from Tunbridge Wells, suffered shock, lacerations to his eyeball and cuts and bruises to his face. He was taken to Kent and Sussex Hospital at Tunbridge Wells for treatment.

Officers would like to hear from anyone who witnessed what happened or who may have seen the a red panel van with a ladder on the roof around the time the incident happened.

PC Paul Scott said: "The lorry driver was incredibly lucky. His eyesight could have been permanently damaged or, even more worryingly, he could have lost control of his vehicle on a busy road."

He added: "There were a lot of vehicles on the road for the time of day."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 01732 379217 or Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.