Police are hunting two robbers who stabbed a taxi driver in the head and made off with his takings.

The 50-year-old cabbie needed 18 stitches after the attack, which took place just before 9pm on Wednesday in Middlesbrough.

The driver picked up the men in Cargo Fleet Lane and drove them to Fulbeck Road where they forced him to stop, restrained him and slashed him with a weapon believed to be a knife.

The assailants then stole a money bag containing about £30 and escaped on foot. The driver, thought to work for Boro Taxis, called police and was taken to Middlesbrough General Hospital.

"This was a pre-meditated, vicious attack on a man going about his business and who offered no resistance to the attackers," said Detective Sergeant Ted Allen.

He said the men were believed to have carried out a similar attack on another taxi driver in the town last week.

Both robbers were white, aged between 18 and 25 and were wearing cream baseball caps.

One was about 5ft 8in tall, slim, with black hair. He was wearing a dark blue top, dark trousers and trainers. The other was between 5ft 9in and 6ft tall, stocky, round faced, with dark hair and was wearing a white puff-style jacket.

Anyone with information about the attack is asked to call Det Sgt Allen on (01642) 303126 or 303146.