A DAD bravely stood up to a knifeman who climbed into his car as he drove to work in Southampton.

The 35-year-old golf club greenkeeper had been driving through the Lordswood area at 4am when his car was suddenly surrounded by five men as he stopped at a junction.

Police said one of the group pulled out a knife from his pocket and got into the car, ordering the motorist to get out, threatening: "I am going to do something with this."

The driver, who has two young children, refused to budge until the knifeman got out. The knifeman then walked around the car and dragged the victim out.

The robbers stole the man's wallet containing £250 in the terrifying attack which happened at the junction of Coxford Road and Lordshill Way early on Saturday morning.

Police said the victim, who has not been named, had acted bravely but had been left badly shaken, and remained wary about driving past the traffic lights where the incident had happened.

PC Ben Atkinson, of Southampton's robbery squad, said: "This was a nasty incident against an innocent member of the public who was simply going about his business and driving to work.

"For everyone's safety, these offenders need to be named, shamed and dealt with by the police."

Police are hunting five men - four white and one Asian - after the robbery. All are thought to come from the local area.

The knifeman was described as white, aged 18 to 20, 5ft 10in, of medium to large build, with short brown hair and a baby face.

He wore a dark baseball cap with a white Nike tick on the front, dark blue jeans and a cream zip-up jacket,

Police said he was armed with a black-handled kitchen knife which had a blade of three or four inches in length.

Any information to PC Atkinson at Southampton police's robbery team on 0845 045 4545, or the anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.