A man was beaten with an iron bar after his car nudged a passerby while driving in Mitcham yesterday.

Police said the victim’s car rolled back slightly after stalling at a set of traffic lights, clipping the legs of a group of who were pushing the vehicle to help him restart it.

One of the group then went to fetch a bar before attacking the 21-year-old driver, leaving him with head injuries and needing hospital treatment.

Police are hunting the attacker, a black man aged about 20, who fled from the scene of the crime in Manor Road.

The assault happened at about 8.40pm, and when the police arrived shortly afterwards they found the victim slumped against a wall with blood pouring from his head.

He was taken to St George’s Hospital in Tooting, but discharged this morning.

An eyewitness who helped treat the victim described the assault as “unprovoked and mindless thuggery”. She said: “He was in shock - he was holding his head and blood was pouring from it.”

Anyone with information about the attack should call Wimbledon CID on 020 8649 3147.