POLICE are hunting two robbers who forced a taxi driver to take them on a 40-minute terror drive before stealing £300 and a mobile phone.

The cabbie, who was driving a green Rover 420, had been sent to pick up a fare at the junction of Portsmouth Road and Hamble Lane in Bursledon.

But two men flagged him down as he approached the pick-up point just inside Portsmouth Road at about 2.05am. One got into the front passenger seat while the other occupied the seat behind the driver.

As the taxi driver tried to radio his office to confirm he had collected his passengers, one of the men grabbed his arm and the back seat passenger put his arm around the taxi driver's throat.

He was ordered to drive to the M27 and head westbound before being told to pull on to the hard shoulder on an unlit section between junction two at Ower and junction one at Cadnam, where he was searched and robbed of his cash and phone.

The driver was then told to drive back towards Southampton and head into the city along the M271.

After passing the Nursling junction, but before reaching the Redbridge roundabout, he was again ordered to stop on the hard shoulder, where both men left the vehicle and made off at about 2.45am in the early hours on Sunday.

Anyone who can help is asked to contact Hedge End police on 0845 045 4545, or the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555 111.