A 73-year-old man has been left with serious head injuries after clinging on to his car for several hundred yards following a carjacking.

The pensioner had been checking the air pressure in his tyres at a Southampton petrol station last night when the thief jumped in to the drivers seat.

The victim then partially threw himself in to the vehicle through the driver's window and tried to get control of his grey Renault Grand Scenic but the carjacker drove off with him hanging out of the car.

He was eventually forced to let go and fell to the ground on the busy main road.

He suffered serious head injuries and a suspected fractured elbow and remains in Southampton General Hospital's neurological unit this morning.

The terrifying ordeal happened at the Shell garage on Winchester Road just after 7pm.

Police hunting the thief believe a second man may also have been involved and are urging anyone who was at the garage or in the area last night to come forward.

A major hunt is today underway to find the car - registration number CVO5 RGO - and the driver.

The carjacking happened on the same day that a 42-year-old woman was killed in Greater Manchester after being run over by a thief who stole her sports car.

The victim was thrown on to the bonnet of her MG after she saw him in the driver's seat. She suffered serious head injuries and died shortly after in hospital.

• If you have information, know where the car is or who was driving it call Shirley CID on 101.