POLICE are searching for a man with a distinctive jumper and an 'educated accent' who left a taxi driver needing surgery on his eye after a late night altercation.

The incident happened at 3.40am on Saturday, December 20 in the taxi rank on Grange Road, in Darlington, when the suspect lashed out at the window of a taxi, shattering the glass.

The taxi driver was left with a chunk of glass in his right eye, which had to be removed surgically, and cuts to his face.

His two female passengers suffered cuts to their feet and arms.

Sergeant Simon Cowan from Darlington Police said CCTV of the incident shows the man standing at the back of the queue, but apparently convinced he is at the front.

Sgt Cowan said: "He is standing watching people get in taxis in front of him and he just snaps and runs up to the taxi at the front and starts screaming at the taxi driver.

"He grabbed hold of the door, which the taxi driver managed to get closed, but then he just punches the window out, showering the three people in the car with glass."

Officers were on the scene minutes later but the man, who had run off up Northumberland Street in the direction of Bannatyne's Hotel, could not be found.

Sgt Cowan added: "The taxi driver tells us that the man had a very educated accent and the jumper he is wearing looks to be designer and quite distinctive. None of our officers recognise him as being someone they've dealt with before and it could be that this is a moment of madness.

"I would ask this man to hand himself in, rather than have me knock on his door over the Christmas period. I want to see justice for the three victims."

The suspect is described as being about 5'11'' tall, with mousey brown hair receding at the temples. He was wearing a grey jumper with red diamonds on the elbows and a chunky watch or bracelet.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt Cowan at Darlington Police on non-emergency 101.