A PENSIONER was left with a broken jaw after he was punched in the face by a "cowardly" road rage attacker.

Peter Stringer, aged 71, was walking his mother-in-law’s dog along Old Clough Lane, Walkden, when a black Mercedes saloon car sped past, and the victim signalled for him to slow down.

Mr Stringer was standing near the junction of Spring Clough Avenue when the driver stopped the car and reversed towards him.

He leapt out of the car and punched Mr Stringer hard in the face, breaking his jaw and knocking him unconscious.

The man then got back in his car and drove off, leaving the victim injured and alone on the pavement.

Det Con Paul Davies said: “The victim has been left understandably shaken by this unprovoked assault and I believe the injuries would have been more severe had the victim not fallen onto a grass verge.

“The offender has thought nothing of fleeing the scene and did not even call an ambulance.

“Unfortunately no witnesses to this assault have come forward and the victim came too on the grass verge alone, with no one around to check on his welfare.

“It was a cowardly act and I ask for anybody with information about this incident or think they may have seen a vehicle matching that description driving erratically in the area at the time to contact police.”

The attack happened on Sunday at about 7.30pm.

The suspect is an Asian man, aged about 30, between 5ft 8in and 5ft 9in tall, with an athletic build.

He was said to have has a sallow complexion, short, black hair and a short, trimmed beard. He was wearing smart casual clothes.

Anyone with information can call police on 0161 8565097 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.