A vehicle repairman was dragged along the road when a thief stole his van.

The victim was working on a broken down Peugeot car in the car park of Tesco Metro, Market Street, Little Lever, at about 6.40pm last Thursday.

As he worked on the car he left the engine running in his white Ford Transit van so he could use the headlights to illuminate the Peugeot’s engine.

After several minutes he heard his van’s engine revving and briefly saw a man in the driver’s seat. He drove away so the victim grabbed hold of the passenger door.

As the van set off he was unbalanced and was dragged alongside it as he tried to pull himself into the van.

He then fell out of the van onto the road as his van was driven off towards Market Street, onto that road and left onto Church Street, towards the general direction of Bolton.

The victim sustained a dislocated thumb and bruising.

The offender was described as white, in his mid 20’s, about 26 or 27-years-old with short blonde hair with an unshaven, long face.

Detective Constable Stephen Riddle, of Bolton CID, said: “The victim is extremely lucky not to have been seriously injured.

“It is only through good fortune that he wasn’t run over. The actions of the thief were both opportunistic and reckless and I now want people’s help.

“Did you see this man approach the van or did you see him drive it away?”

Anyone with information is asked to call Bolton CID on 0161 856 5609/5645 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.