A BUSINESSMAN was left for dead after being run down twice by thieves raiding his works.

Company boss Chris Hields had been trying to stop three thieves driving off with a boot full of alloy steel, snatched from his compound.

After he was run over the first time, the 53-year-old director managed to get up and tried again to stop them, but the gang knocked him over a second time.

The panicking crooks left the car and ran off, leaving Mr Hields lying in a pool of blood. He had a fractured skull and eye socket and at least one broken rib.

An employee at precision engineering firm CA Hields, on the Durham Lane industrial estate, Eaglescliffe, near Stockton, called for an ambulance.

Mr Hields was said to be comfortable and stable in Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital, last night.

Staff at the small family-owned works were left shocked by the incident, at 11am on Saturday, as details emerged yesterday.

Five people were last night in police custody, helping detectives with their inquiries. Parts of the grey J-reg Vauxhall Astra, left by the thieves at the scene, were removed for forensic examination.

Mr Hields' father, Colin, 79, managing director of the firm, said: "There were four of us at work in the middle of Saturday morning when someone spotted these men. They had cut through the perimeter fence and were trying to steal some valuable stock material.

"We blocked the exit with a car. Chris ran over as the men got into their car and tried to drive away.

"He picked up a heavy metal frame and threw it down in front of their car and they drove straight at him.

"He hit his head on the kerb and caused a really serious injury, it was very, very worrying when we saw him. He did manage to stop the car as he intended and the three men ran away - but Chris paid a heavy price.

"But he has come through the worst and seems to be making a good recovery, which is a huge relief, but we are still extremely upset and conerned.

"He was just trying to protect our business from a gang of people prepared to steal from us in broad daylight."

Detective Sergeant John Ward of Stockton CID, said: "They have been determined to make their escape and he has been hit in the process.''

The last registered owner of the Astra sold the car last October and police want to know who has been using it since.

They are keen to speak to anyone with information about who has been driving the car, registration J264 JTR, and anyone who was on the industrial estate at the time of Saturday's incident. People can contact the police on (01642) 302233.