POLICE are hunting a thief who smashed the window of a car with a hammer before ordering its owner to get out and driving off in the vehicle.

The incident happened just before 1.30pm on Thursday, when a blue Vauxhall Vectra was parked at the north end of Wantage Road, Carrville, near Durham.

The Vectra driver, a 33-year-old man from east Durham, was sitting in the car when it was struck by an Isuzu Trooper travelling from the Grinstead Way direction.

A number of men wearing masks over their faces got out of the truck and an Alpha Romeo pulled in behind the Vectra, boxing it in.

A man armed with a hammer got out of the Alpha and smashed the Vectra's windscreen, before ordering its driver to get out, which he did.

The attacker then drove off at high speed in the Vectra along Wantage Road towards Broomside Lane, abandoning the Alpha Romeo at the scene.

The victim, although showered in glass, was not injured.

Detective Constable Steve Smith, of Durham Police, said: "This was a very frightening experience for the victim but fortunately he wasn't hurt.

"Incidents of this type are very unusual and we are treating it very seriously indeed."

Police are appealing to anyone with information about the incident or the whereabouts of the Vectra, registration number FN55 0BB, or the Isuzu Trooper, registration number R304 GTN, to contact Peterlee CID on 0345-60-60-365 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555-111.