POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a taxi driver was assaulted in Grove yesterday afternoon.

A man got into a taxi which was parked near the King Alfred's Head pub in Wantage market place at around 5.15pm. He came from the direction of the Arbery pub, and may have been drinking there. He asked the taxi driver to go to Grove.

The man became aggressive and at the roundabout with Mably Way in Grove, the man, who was sitting in the back of the car, grabbed and punched the driver on the back of the head.

The driver stopped at Wolage Drive and the man got out of the car, making off towards Mably Way.

The man is white with a pale complexion, in his mid forties, 6ft 2in tall, slim and clean shaven. He was wearing a black hat that had a peak at the front of it, a long black trench coat, black trousers and black boots.

PC Lewis Boyce said: "The driver was not injured, but was shaken by what happened, and the attack seems to have been unprovoked.

"If you saw this man, or know who he is then please contact me. Maybe you saw the taxi stopped at the junction of Wolage Drive and saw the man run off. There was a lot of traffic around at the time. "

If you have information please contact PC Boyce via 0845 8 505 505. If you do not wish to speak to police or give your name you can contact the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.