A London taxi driver was left in this battered state after telling passengers to clean up sick a woman had left in his cab or pay extra.

Thugs who attacked the unnamed cabbie are still being sought by police more than six months after the incident on January 26.

The 62-year-old black cab driver was hailed by a man and a woman in their early 20s and both white near Harrods at around 2.20am.

All seemed fine when the pair left the taxi in Lower Addison Gardens, Kensington, and the man paid the £20 fare.

But then the cabbie noticed the woman had been sick in the back of his cab and he suggested to the man they should clear up the mess or give him an extra £45 to pay for cleaning.

Police say the driver has no recollection of what happened next but when he regained consciousness he was badly injured and his clothing was covered in blood.

He managed to drive home and his son then took him to hospital.

He was found to have sustained multiple fractures around his eye socket.

Detective Constable Simon Jewell, from Kensington and Chelsea CID, said: "The victim's injuries are consistent with having been repeatedly kicked or punched in the head.

“This would appear to be a vicious attack on a 62-year-old man who has only recently been able to return to work.”

Anyone with information should call police on 020 8246 0217 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.