A TAXI driver today told how he feared for his life when a stolen JCB tried to force him off the road.

Farooq Khan, a driver with Arcade Private Hire, in Crossfield Street, Blackburn, said he was driving along Livesey Branch Road towards town in the early hours of yesterday when the dumper truck -- driven by a gang of youths -- came towards him.

The 34-year-old, from Little Harwood, said it crossed on to his side of the road and rammed the back of his car before driving off, knocking down railings at the side of the road in the process.

Police said it was found later abandoned nearby.

Mr Khan said: "One of the lads on it started shouting 'run him over' then it started coming towards me on my side of the road. I couldn't move through fear and I started praying.

"If they had driven over my car, I would have been dead. I have never been so frightened."

Mr Khan managed to drive his Vauxhall Cavalier back to the taxi rank but said it had been damaged beyond repair costing him thousands. Blackburn Police said the industrial vehicle had been stolen from a nearby building site on Livesey Branch Road and were looking for a gang of youths in connection with the incident.

A spokesman said: "The vehicle was recovered nearby and has been taken away by police. There were reports of damage to a number of vehicles on that road."