BRAVE cabbie Derek Fletcher is back at work a year after he was throttled and set on fire behind the wheel of his taxi - but his attacker is still at large.

The 53-year-old was never expected to return to his job due to the physical injuries and the mental trauma he suffered following the brutal attack on him a year ago tomorrow.

But Mr Fletcher, pictured left, from Sholing in Southampton, has made a good recovery and is back working for Eastleigh-based Happy Cabs.

In the early hours of May 21 last year a passenger used a piece of rope to attempt to strangle Mr Fletcher after he picked him up near Eastleigh town centre.

The taxi driver passed out and when he came round he discovered that his trousers had been set alight during the vicious attack near Eastleigh Football Club in Stoneham Lane. Part of the Daily Echo coverage of the attack is shown right.

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The cabbie suffered severe burns to the lower left side of his body and was treated for several weeks at the specialist burns unit at Salisbury District Hospital.

Mr Fletcher believed the attack was premeditated. He said: "He was very, very determined to do me because he was pulling on the rope. He definitely needs to be caught because he is obviously desperate and I am sure he will do it again."

The shocking attack, which left Mr Fletcher with permanent scarring, was the subject of a BBC Crimewatch reconstruction last August.

Millions of viewers tuned in to watch the reconstruction of the incident and detectives believed they were on to a strong lead when, during the television appeal, they received a text message naming the partner of a potential suspect.

But despite the appeal, the text message, sifting through hours of CCTV footage, and a reward of £5,000 from Crimestoppers and the community for tracking down the sadistic attacker, officers leading the investigation, codenamed Operation Seymour, are still hunting the culprit.

The attacker was described as white, about 5ft 10in, thin, close-shaven with a gaunt appearance and wearing a dark-coloured hooded top.

Anyone with information should call Eastleigh CID on 0845 045 4545.