Police have launched an appeal for information following an incident in which a taxi driver was racially abused then punched by passengers.

The driver required hospital treatment after the assault, which took place after he picked up five people in Birkenhead.

The group - three men and two women - got into the cab in Price Street and asked to be taken to an address in Wallasey when an argument broke out over the route.

The passengers got out by St Albans Church and two of them shouted racist abuse at the driver before a woman pushed him and a man punched him in the face.

Police were called to the scene at around 9.30pm on Monday evening.

Officers said that while not seriously injured, the victim was left “obviously shaken by the incident”.

He had been taken to hospital as a precautionary measure and released a short time later.

Anyone with information should call detectives on 0151 777 2268 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.