Rank and vile yobs smash taxi

DAMAGED . . . a brick was hurled at the taxi's windscreen

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A TAXI driver had a lucky escape after yobs hurled a brick at his car windscreen.

The man, who does not want to be named for fear of reprisals, said the incident in Ripponden Road left him so shaken, he is scared of taking more jobs in Oldham after dark.

The driver, who operates for Uber, was travelling with a female passenger, who was sitting in the back, heading towards Moorside shortly before 7pm on Thursday when the attack happened.

He escaped with minor injuries to his hand, sustained after glass fell from the windscreen on to the steering wheel.

His passenger was also shaken by the attack, but was unhurt.

He said: "I was driving down the road when there was a loud smash.

"The brick hit the glass directly in front of my face and cracked the entire screen.

"It was lucky I was wearing glasses as shards of glass flew towards my face."

The Oldhamer, who has worked as a taxi driver for over 15 years, managed to maintain control of the car and pull over safely while his passenger called the police.

"We were both very shaken by it all, it was such a shock," he said.

"Neither of us were hurt but we were lucky ­- it could have been much worse.

"I didn't see the people who did it, they must have been hiding but I think it could have been teenagers.

"I don't want to drive in the area any more after dark as it is too dangerous.

"I've been attacked and injured before while driving my taxi."

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman confirmed that police were called to Ripponden Road at 6.50pm to reports that a brick had been thrown at a car windscreen and had smashed the glass.

An investigation has been launched, however no arrests have been made.

The Chronicle contacted several Oldham-based taxi and private hire firms but none of them said they had any recent reports of attacks on their vehicles.