A FEMALE delivery driver managed to fight off a would-be-robber who punched her in the face.

The victim had pulled in to check her delivery schedule when a small black three-door car with loud music playing pulled up behind her at speed.

She had noticed the car earlier following her van during her delivery round.

Then a man opened the driver's door of her van and attempted to open the locked rear door.

When he couldn't, he punched the woman in the face. She managed to close the door on his fingers and he ran off to the black car.

This man is described as white, 20, very thin, 5ft 10ins tall and with thick, wavy blond hair. He wore blue denim jeans and a blue hoody.

The woman also noticed that the black car was driven by a second man with dark hair. Police want to hear from anyone who saw the black car in the area of Spring Road or behind Cedar Court between 10.30–11am Monday.

They also want to hear from anyone who saw the incident or who knows a man who has a hand with injuries consistent with having fingers caught in a car door.

The incident happened around 10.50am on Monday, on a gravel parking area behind Cedar Court, off Spring Road, according to police.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at Bitterne on 101.