A BOURNEMOUTH woman and her young daughter were forced to flee from their car after its window was smashed in a terrifying road rage attack.

They fled their Ford Sierra, being driven by the woman's husband, after a grey saloon car forced them to stop on the northbound carriageway of the A338 Spur Road and the two cars collided.

The driver of the saloon, possibly a Saab or Volkswagen Passat, approached the Sierra and smashed the driver's window.

The mother, 33, and nine-year-old child quickly got out of their car and, fearing for their safety, fled onto the busy carriageway's verge following the attack on Thursday October 28 at 3.35pm.

They got back into the car a short while later and the husband, 31, was able to drive off, despite attempts by the other man to stop them. The family, from Charminster, are not being named.

Police constable Adrian Barnes, of Ferndown police said they were keen to establish what happened before the collision and appealed for witnesses to contact them.

He said: "Whatever may have happened before the two cars collided there's absolutely no reason for the sort of behaviour allegedly exhibited by the driver of the grey car. The only description of him is that he was white, with dark hair."

He said it was fortunate that no one in the Sierra was injured either during the collision, when the window was broken or when the mother and child fled the car.

Anyone with information contact Dorset Police on 01202 222222 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

First published: October 30