A LORRY driver was sprayed in the face with what is believed to have been pepper spray as he tackled a thief.

The driver had been making a delivery at the Co-op store in Aldermoor Road, Southampton, at 7am on Saturday when he saw a man leave the cab of his truck clutching a briefcase he had taken from inside.

The driver from Gosport, who has asked not to be identified, caught the thief, pinning him against a wall.

As he did so he saw two other men approach him. The driver said: "The next thing I heard was a click - I don't know if that was a knife or what - but then one of the two other lads lifted his arm up and sprayed this stuff in my face. It was a painful burning sensation and I just let go of the guy I had hold of."

The 46-year-old, who was momentarily blinded by the spray, raised the alarm at the Co-op.

After being checked by paramedics he went to hospital for tests. He said: "I still have irritation in my right eye, but that was the one that took the majority of the spray. From what the doctors said it looks like pepper spray, so hopefully there shouldn't be any long-term problems."

The briefcase containing tachograph equipment, which records how long the driver is at the wheel of a lorry, was later found abandoned nearby.

Investigating officer PC Lou Wright said: "This assault could have been a lot worse. As it is it left a man in considerable discomfort."

The three men were described as white and aged between 18 and 22. One was skinny with a "baby" face, fair hair and a long fringe, and wore a green jacket.

A second man was described as 5ft 10in with short brown hair, a spotty complexion and wearing a blue zip-up jacket.

The third was described as 5ft 6in, of medium build and wearing a long-sleeved cream fleece.

If you have information, call PC Wright on 0845 045 4545.