A YOUNG man has been punched in the face three times in a road rage attack.

The 19-year-old from Chineham was hit so hard in the unprovoked attack that doctors cannot tell whether or not his nose is broken because of the swelling.

The incident occurred as he was driving past the hospital at 5.50pm on Thursday.

The driver of a metallic green Peugeot 406 saloon, apparently annoyed because of the way the teenager was driving, gave a hand gesture and followed him along the A339.

He forced the teenager to stop and pulled in so that his red Fiat Punto was trapped at the side of the road.

The attacker then walked towards the Punto and said: "Do you think it's funny, do you?"

He then punched the driver three times.

"I was shocked and really confused. I have never been hit before in my life," said the victim, who has asked not to be identified. "He should be locked up."

The Peugeot driver is white, in his 20s, about 6ft, with cropped dark hair. A woman and a number of children were in the car with him.

Pc Lyndon Barrett, of Basingstoke police, said road rage attackers tend to strike more than once.

"This was a totally unprovoked, vicious attack," he said. "Any witnesses should come forward to stop this from happening again."

Anyone who knows anything about the incident should call Basingstoke police on 0845 045 45 45.