A petrol station cashier was dragged into a main road as he tried to stop youths driving off without paying for fuel.

Pavan Bakki, 25, grabbed the driver's collar through an open window as the car began to pull away.

He ran beside the car for more than 30 yards as it accelerated out of the filling station before he was dumped in the busy road.

Mr Bakki suffered bruises to his ankles, legs and elbows in the incident but has since returned to work.

He became suspicious when the car pulled into Patcham Service Station in Brighton and one of four youths got out to fill the tank.

Mr Bakki, from Brighton, said: "I ran towards him and suddenly he got into the car and they drove off.

"I grabbed hold of the driver's collar. They drove for ten or 15 metres before leaving me in the road.

"I was not frightened because I did not want to give them the chance to get away without paying."

The white Audi, with a distinctive spoiler, drove at speed along London Road towards the A27.

Station owner Yousuf Baig said the thieves took £39 of fuel.

The incident was caught on closed circuit television cameras.

He said: "We were shocked by what happened. They wanted to drive over Pavan. In 20 years in the business I have never experienced this sort of violence."

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to ring the police on 0845 6070999.