UK police are hunting a man who stole a car and drove off at high speed with the owner clinging to the bonnet.

The victim was eventually flung into the road and was lucky to escape serious injury.

The incident happened on the afternoon of February 7 in Farnworth, Bolton, Greater Manchester.

The 59-year-old victim had parked his brown Skoda alongside Starlight Bedrooms on Bloomfield Road.

He left the keys in the ignition but turned the engine off. As he walked towards the store, he was passed by a man on the pavement who initially walked past the car but, sensing an opportunity, ran back to it and got behind the wheel.

The victim was alerted and ran back to his car, at which point the thief drove it directly at him.

The car owner managed to jump on to the bonnet but the thief carried on regardless, driving at accelerating speeds and eventually flinging the man off the bonnet and into the road.

The car was then driven along Bloomfield Road and out of sight.

The thief is described as being white, of a thin build with gaunt features and stubble. He was said to be about 5ft 8in tall, with short dark hair and wearing light blue jeans and a striped top with either blue, white or cream stripes.