A ROAD RAGE knife attacker left a terrified motorist cut and bruised after a savage confrontation on a quiet, foggy road.

Last night, the victim told how he got out of his car to confront the crazed driver only to have a four-inch knife pulled on him

The driver, who has asked not to be named, had to fight for his life as the attacker slashed and punched him.

After the incident was over, the assailant coolly stepped back into his car and drove away.

His shocked victim managed to drive to a layby where he called for help on a mobile phone.

Last night, police urged the public to help in tracking down the attacker before he strikes again.

Detective Sergeant Alec Francis, of Darlington Police, said: "We are investigating a very serious attack."

It was "totally inappropriate to whatever may have preceded".

The attack happened on the A68 in County Durham after the 26-year-old victim had been overtaken on a bend by a car which had sped up behind him in a matter of seconds.

In annoyance, he flashed his lights and sounded his horn before the other driver slowed down, stopping his car on an angle and blocking the carriageway.

The drivers of both cars got out and the man who had been in the overtaking vehicle attacked with a knife and his fists, landing a series of blows onto his victim's head before driving away.

The bruised and cut victim, from West Auckland, had been driving between his home town and Darlington at 12.45am on Wednesday, when a small, off-white Peugeot-style vehicle overtook him on the bend.

The man said: "I flashed the lights and sounded the horn as if to say 'what a stupid thing to do'. He slowed down and stopped in front of me.

"He got out and then I got out. I took a couple of steps forward and then thought 'Why have I got out? This is stupid'.

"All of a sudden, he attacked me - cut my arm, cut my face, bruising me down the face - and then just drove off."

During the attack, which happened between Toytop Farm and Sunnydale Farm, the knifeman only spoke three words, cursing the victim.

The suspect is in his thirties, male, white, about 6ft and of stocky build. He had dark, short hair and had two or three gold-coloured hooped earrings in each ear.

l Anybody who has information about the attack is urged to contact Darlington police on (01325) 467681 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.