A TRAUMATISED teenage girl was the victim of an alleged road rage attack less than a month after passing her driving test.

The 17-year-old drove to the Spar, near the Chequerbent roundabout, with her boyfriend on Monday, April 16.

After leaving the store, she pulled out on to Manchester Road and turned right to head back home to Westhoughton.

But as she approached the roundabout in her blue Toyota Yaris, a car came up close behind her and began to tailgate the vehicle.

The male driver of the black Audi A5 then undertook her and slammed the brakes on in front, causing her to stop.

The man, described as bald, over six foot and possibly in his 30s, then got out and hurled abuse at the youngster, who locked the car doors.

The teen's father Phil Watkins, who did not wish to name his daughter, said: "She was petrified. Her boyfriend told her to lock her door and they both just froze.

"He punched her window, tried the handle and gave her a lot of verbal abuse.

"She heard him say 'don't you f****** dare make me slow down when I have my kids in the car'. She could see that he had two children.

"He went around to the front and basically ran up and booted the front bumper before he sped off."

The attack left the couple shaken and caused damage to the headlights and bumper, which have since been fixed.

The police were called as soon as they got back home.

The teen had passed her test on March 19 and she had only been using her new car since April 14 when it was insured.

Mr Watkins said: "I am just disgusted that a grown man, and one who's about six foot, could do something like this, especially in front of his kids.

"We all have a little bit of anger on the road now and again but usually we just mutter something under our breaths.

"You do not see a girl who is clearly a new driver and do that. I just can not understand how anyone could do that to a young girl.

"God only knows what would have happened if she did not lock her door."

Traffic was backed up down Manchester Road during the incident and Mr Watkins has appealed for witnesses to come forward and particularly anyone with dashcam footage.

He said his daughter's boyfriend also took a picture of the car's number plate, which has been handed to police.

A spokesman from Greater Manchester Police said: "We were called shortly before 6.40pm on Monday, April 16, to reports of a road-rage incident that had taken place on Manchester Road in Over Hulton between 6pm and 6.30pm that evening.

"Vehicles involved were a Toyota Yaris and a black Audi A5. Police are now investigating. No arrests have been made currently."

Anyone with any information or who may have seen the incident is asked to call police on 101 quoting the reference number 1730 of April 16.