A TAXI driver has told how he thought he was going to be killed by a gang of teenage boys in what police have described as a "vile" racist attack.

Ali Mahboob, from Bolton, was set upon by seven youths during Saturday afternoon after he asked them to stop throwing stones at his car.

The 44-year-old was racially abused and threatened before he was beaten with sticks in Kenyon Way, Little Hulton, where he had gone to pick up a fare.

He said: "They had a piece of wood and hit me 25, 30 times, I fell over and they were beating me on my back, my head and my face.

"I don't know how I managed to get up and run to the taxi, how my body managed it but I thought 'They are killing you'.

"I got in to the taxi and I was so exhausted I did not feel any pain, it was only later the pain started, and it my customer who said I had been injured."

The attack happened just before 1pm.

Mr Mahboob, who lives in St Helens Road, was waiting outside a house in Kenyon Way, when a stone was hurled at his windscreen.

Stones continued to be thrown at his car as he was driving off.

The taxi driver pulled over and asked the group to stop throwing the stones and was badly beaten.

He managed to get up and flee the gang who chased after him, and ran to his taxi and drove off, with the customer still inside.

Mr Mahboob suffered cuts and bruising to his lower back and face and required hospital treatment.

"I have two or three lumps on my head, and the back head hurts, and my face it cut," he said.

Mr Mahboob said he was left extremely worried by the abuse he received.

"One said to me 'you Muslims, we are going to do to you what happened in New Zealand'. I was very worried, I didn't work for a few days in that area.

"I asked why would somebody do this, I have not done anyone any wrong.

"I want everyone who reads this to teach their children not to throw stones at people's car. This is the fourth time stones have been thrown at my car causing damage, but it could make a driver lose control.

"If my children did this, I would punish them.

"I went to ask and they attacked me."

Police are now appealing for witnesses and information to catch those responsible.

The attackers are said to be seven white teenage boys who were wearing dark clothing and hooded sweatshirts.

PC Daniel Marshall, of GMP’s Salford district, said: "Incidents of this nature will never be tolerated in our communities, and we are doing everything we can to find those responsible for this vile attack.

"We have been carrying out a number of lines of enquiries since this incident and we are now appealing for the public’s help.

"If you were in the area at the time and you saw anything then please get in touch with police as soon as possible.

Anyone with any information about the assault should contact police on 0161 856 2836 quoting incident number 1132 of 06/04/19.

Information can be passed on anonymously by calling the independent charity Crime stoppers on 0800 555 111.