A bungling robber left his passport inside a taxi after punching the driver and stealing his takings.

The passenger punched the cabbie, from Basildon's Value Cars, in the head while travelling along Travers Way, in Pitsea.

As the shocked driver pulled over to the side of the road, the passenger grabbed his bag of cash and fled from the taxi.

He also failed to pay for the £25 fare he owed.

When the driver looked at the rear passenger seat, he discovered the man had clumsily left behind his passport, as well as his mobile phone and a debit card.

The robbery took place at about 7pm on Wednesday. The driver handed the items in to Basildon police station later in the evening.

A spokesman for Value Cars told the Echo the items would be returned to the passenger if the pays his fare in full.

The incident came less than a week after an independent cabbie had a bag of cash stolen following an argument with a couple about the price of the fare.

The man and the woman, who were picked up at a taxi rank in Basildon town centre, ran from the car in Beambridge, Pitsea, at about 4pm last Thursday.

Sgt Angie Torrance, who is based at Basildon police station, said: “This is very uncommon but it does seem to be happening more and more.

“We haven’t made any arrests yet in connection with the robbery but we are making enquiries.

“We have a name of a suspect and are hoping to arrest him in the next couple of days.”

Anyone with information can call Essex Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.