A BMW worker was threatened with a claw hammer and a 10in knife during a road rage incident in Oxford.

Andrew Northall, 45, told police an impatient driver in a white Ford Escort pulled alongside him in Headington as he was driving home from work on October 21.

The Escort driver shouted abuse and expletives at Mr Northall, before attempting to overtake, despite the lack of room. He scratched the side of Mr Northall's black Rover MG, swerved right, hit the kerb and drove off.

When both drivers were forced to stop at traffic lights by Barclays Bank in London Road, Headington, at about 4.20pm, Mr Northall got out of his car and approached the Escort.

But the other driver emerged from his vehicle armed with the weapons. Mr Northall, who was heading home to Curbridge, near Witney, after his shift at the Cowley plant, said the driver lunged at him with the knife, just missing his arm.

He said: "He tried to stab me near the armpit. I somehow knocked the knife off him.

"I picked it up and instinctively stabbed his tyre so he could not get away. I was hoping someone would come and help me, but no-one did."

The other driver drove off, despite the punctured tyre, while Mr Northall ran back to his car and called police.

Mr Northall said: "I couldn't believe no-one came to help. You read about this sort of thing happening and always think someone would help out, but they didn't.

"It all happened so quickly. Maybe other drivers didn't realise I was being attacked.

"I've never had anything so frightening happen to me before. I still can't believe it happened. I called my wife straight away and she is even more upset."

A police spokesman said: "We are investigating what appears to be a road rage incident."

A man was today being questioned at St Aldate's police station.