POLICE have launched an appeal after a driver was assaulted in Thamesdown Drive in a road rage incident earlier this week.

The incident took place on Tuesday between 10am and 10.30am, resulting in a 60-year-old man being punched in the side of the head through an open window.

Police say the victim was travelling along the A419 in a beige Toyota and heading towards Swindon when a vehicle began repeatedly swerving in front of him.

The driver told police a two-door metallic blue Mercedes Coupe repeatedly cut in front of his vehicle before moving back to the other lane.

Both cars then left the A419 at Thamesdown Drive and stopped at the traffic lights close to the Harvester pub.

The driver of the Mercedes got out of his car and began shouting at the man in the Toyota, who went to get his mobile phone to call the police.

As he reached across he was hit in the side of the head by the Mercedes driver.

The assailant then ran back to his own car and sped off, jumping red lights in the process.

The suspect is described as a white male, in his twenties, of chubby build and about 5ft 2ins tall.

He was balding and wearing black, rectangular framed glasses.

He was also wearing a red hooded top with a logo on the front.

The victim was unable to get a full registration number but he believes it began with an L.

Immediately after the assault he got out of his car and spoke with the driver of a small white van which was nearby at the time.

Police are keen to speak to both the van driver and anyone else in the vicinity at the time of the attack.

They also want to hear from anyone who might have information on the driver of the Mercedes.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Kimberley Winton on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, where information can be left anonymously.