A motorist suffered serious injuries when he was beaten about the head in a road rage attack.

The man was viciously assaulted by another driver brandishing an unknown weapon after an altercation which started in Bradford.

The victim, who was driving a Toyota Carina, was chased by the attacker's silver Vauxhall Cavalier from the Queen's Road area of the city towards Leeds yesterday afternoon.

The two cars came to a halt on the Leeds-bound carriageway of Bradford Road near the roundabout at Thornbury Barracks.

Detectives said that the Cavalier driver hit the other man around the head with an unknown weapon inflicting serious head injuries.

The Cavalier was then driven off at speed towards Leeds.

The victim, who has not been named, was taken to Leeds General Infirmary. Today his condition was described as stable.

Police, who removed the Carina for forensic tests, have appealed for witnesses who might have seen what triggered the row between the drivers or the attack which happened at 1.45pm.

Janie Brabham, 49, who lives near where the attack took place, said they were watching television at the time of the incident.

"The motor racing was on quite loud and as it was a sunny day, we had the curtains partly closed.

"The first thing I knew about the incident was when I was going upstairs and saw the police cars through the window.

"We heard later what had happened. It is completely shocking.

"We heard it was a very serious incident."

Another householder, who did not wish to be named, said he was shocked when he heard that a road-rage incident had taken place near his home.

"We were out at the time, so did not see anything," he said.

"But when we came back we saw that the road was closed off and there were police cars everywhere.

"It is a busy road, so we thought there might have been an accident."

Anyone who saw the dispute between the two drivers in Queen's Road, Bradford, the chase, or the attack close to the Thornbury Barracks should contact Pudsey CID on (0113) 241 4885 or 241 4859.