THIEVES made off with a top-of-the-range £23,000 Mercedes after dragging the driver from the car and attacking him in a Wanstead street.

Police released details today of how the terrified driver was pulled from his vehicle by the two men who set upon him in Eagle Lane, Wanstead, at about 7.15pm on Tuesday, November 6.

The men then sped off in the 47-year-old man's blue Mercedes Benz E320 sports car towards The Eagle pub.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the man had been sitting in his car when his attackers and approached the vehicle.

The driver was dragged out of the driver's side door of the car and struck around the head before being left in the road as the thieves made off in his car.

The driver sustained only minor injuries.

But a Canon Ixus 950 camera worth £200 and a £175 Blackberry 8300 mobile phone were in the car when it was stolen.

The thieves are both around 18-years-old and black. One was around 5ft 10ins tall, and wearing dark clothing, and the other was said to be 5ft 11ins tall, also wearing dark clothing.

Witnesses are urged to contact DS Peter Jupp in the Ilford Robbery Squad on 020 8478 1123 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.