A TEENAGE cyclist says he was randomly attacked by two drunken thugs who got out of a taxi and punched him in the face.

The 16-year-old, who wants to remain anonymous, was cycling near the Conservative Club in Lea Gate, Harwood, just before 6pm on Friday when, he says, a taxi door flung open and almost knocked him off his bike.

He said: “As I stopped and looked behind me I could see two young men, both clearly intoxicated, get out of the taxi and walk aggressively towards me.

“I tried to ride off but I was pulled back by my jumper by one of them. I was then assaulted multiple times in the face, which burst my nose open.”

The youngster said that after the assault, the two men got back into the taxi, which had waited for them and then drove off.

Police officers are now interviewing witnesses to the incident.

He is also annoyed with the private-hire driver who he believes must have witnessed the attack and then allowed the two men to get back into his vehicle, before escorting them away from the scene.

He said: “It cannot be standard practice to witness something like this and then just drive away with the offenders — he was also allowing them to drink alcohol in the car.”

Anyone with information about the incident should contact the police on 101.