BOLTON Thai boxing instructor Darren Morris gave carjackers a run for their money when they tried to tackle him in Manchester city centre.

The 28-year-old was pounced on by four opportunists while sitting in his £25,000 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Five at traffic lights in Peter Street.

One man opened the driver's door and kicked Darren in the head, while another tried to drag him through the passenger door.

Instinctively, Darren, who teaches at the Sandy Holt UK MTA Thai Boxing Club in Brown Street, kicked the first man to the ground and sent the other three reeling before driving on to his Swinton home.

Sandy Holt said: "Like Darren said himself, if criminals will try it on with someone like him they will try anyone. Luckily, his training in Thai boxing gave him the confidence to fight the men off. He said afterwards that he didn't realise he had done it until after -- it was an instant reaction."

Police are investigating the incident, which happened at 12.35am, and are asking anyone who saw the men, aged between 20-25, to contact them.