POLICE are hunting a man who punched and verbally abused a female motorist in what they are describing as a suspected road rage incident.

At 11.30pm on Thursday, the victim, who is in her early 30s, was driving home along Thinford Lane, the A688 on the outskirts of Spennymoor.

She had just passed the turn-off for Hett village and had to move her silver Ford Focus towards the centre of the carriageway to overtake a 4x4 vehicle which had its lights on but appeared to be stationary on her side of the road.

But within a few seconds of completing the manoeuvre, the 4x4 immediately flashed its headlights, pulled out and sped after her.

The vehicle then overtook the woman and braked, forcing her to stop.

The male driver of the 4x4, thought to be an Isuzu, then approached the woman's car.

He hurled abuse at her through her open window and struck out with his fist, landing a blow on her face, and continued to threaten her.

The terrified woman drove off as fast as she could, causing her to collide with the central reservation which damaged both tyres on the driver's side.

She reached the nearby McDonald's restaurant, at Thinford roundabout, from which she phoned her boyfriend and raised the alarm.

Her attacker is described as 6ft, aged 35 to 40, with dark, curly hair which was short at the sides.

He was wearing a gamekeeper's or Barbour-style jacket and spoke with a local accent.

Detective Constable Louise Guy said the woman driver had been badly scared by the incident, which came without any provocation.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Bishop Auckland CID on the non-emergency number, 0845-60-60-365, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555111.