A TAXI driver is fighting for his life in a Birmingham hospital after he was apparently assaulted by one of his passengers in Redditch on Friday night.

The taxi driver was taking two passengers - a man and a teenage girl - to the car park behind the Winyates Centre when there was a dispute over the fare.

The male passenger is then believed to have assaulted the driver.

The 58-year-old driver was taken to the Alexandra Hospital but was later transferred to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where his condition is described as critical.

A man and a woman were arrested in connection with the incident.

The man, a 38 year old from Redditch, appeared before town magistrates on Monday morning charged with assault, while the 16-year-old girl has been released on police bail while inquiries continue.

Det Insp Peter Round said: "We're treating this incident very seriously and although we have made arrests and spoken to some witnesses, we're still appealing for any further witnesses to come forward.

"We would urge anyone who was in the vicinity of the Winyates Centre between 9-10pm on Friday to give us a call if they have any information at all that is relevant to our inquiries."

Anyone with information is asked to call Redditch police on 08457 444888 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.