A taxi driver has spoken out after being attacked “because of the signage” on his car while trying to go about his job in Bolton.

The driver, a man in his 30s from Bolton, was on his way to the Co-Op in Bromley Cross on Friday July 7 when he received a call from the passenger asking that the pickup location be changed.

He went to Bromley Cross Train Station, where the taxi was among four vehicles waiting there but the others were normal cars and not taxis.

The driver was then shocked to find a group of around seven youths who pelt mud and stones at his car.

The Bolton News: The damage to the vehicleThe damage to the vehicle (Image: Submission)

A number of stones were thrown, all missing, but the vehicle was left covered in mud.

The driver, a man in his thirties from Bolton, left work and has not returned since, having now spoken out about his alarm about the incident.

He said: “This took place on Friday between 9.30 and 10pm.

“They threw stones but they missed.

“It was very stressful, I have not been back to work since because I am still stressed.

“It is the third time something like this has happened.

“I do not want to go to work, what is the point of going when it is so stressful.

“They were all youths, there were about seven of them, something like that, they were aged 12, 13, 14.

“The incident lasted a few minutes, traffic came to a stand still and the ran away.

“I have reported it to the police.

“I told them there is CCTV at Bromley Cross Train Station.”

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He said that his car was the only one out of the ones there to be targeted.

He said: “I was targeted solely because of the signage on my vehicle identifying it as a private hire vehicle.”

The incident was reported to Greater Manchester Police who said the enquiry is now closed.

This comes amid ongoing concern about attacks on taxi drivers with GMP last year having launched Operation Claim which aimed to tackle attacks on private hire vehicles across the city region.