INTREPID "Bindiana Jones" may have survived some of the world's trouble spots unscathed - but he had to fight off muggers in his Worcestershire hometown.

Binman John McBride, who gained his nickname after holidaying in some of the world's most dangerous countries - was followed by two men down Comberton Hill underpass in Kidderminster.

"One of them was coming towards me and the next thing I know someone tried to take my back pack," said the 59-year-old from South Chester Road, who is also known as "Mad Mac". "So I swung around and hit him.

"It was one of the backpacks that I have taken with me around the world."

The two men ran off.

Police are appealing for any witnesses who saw the attempted robbery on Thursday, May 20, at around 11.30pm, to get in touch. They are described as being white and in their 20s.

One of the men was approximately 5ft 8ins and of stocky build while the other was 5ft 11ins and slim.

In March Mr McBride visited Tunisia, where he made a number of unsuccessful attempts to apply for visas into Algeria, a country ravaged by bandits, bombers and bubonic plague, and Libya.

He has journeyed to all four corners of the world, having visited more than 110 countries since 1977, and is now on his seventh passport.