A 42-year-old man was stabbed twice with a screwdriver while trying to stop a teenager stealing his car from outside his house, police said.

The victim was stabbed twice in the shoulder, with one thrust leaving a deep wound, after confronting the hooded teenager at the wheel of his Ford Fiesta.

The man, who does not want to be identified, rushed out of his house in Jane Street, Stanley, County Durham, after hearing a banging noise and then the sound of a car engine being started.

When the householder ran out, he saw the driver's side window had been smashed and spotted a youth aged 15 or 16 at the wheel, Durham Police said.

The youth jumped from the car and threatened the man before stabbing him twice and running off.

The victim was rushed to the University Hospital of Durham and, after spending a night there, was back at home today.

Detective Constable Steve Frost said today: ''This was a nasty and unprovoked attack which, even so, could have been a great deal worse.

''We assume the motive was to steal the car rather than just its contents.''