A SHOP assistant was injured as he tried to stop a driver fleeing a petrol station without paying for fuel.

The incident happened at the Esso petrol station and adjacent Costcutter store on London Road in Stanford-le-Hope last night (Sunday, 15 December).

Site owner Merwin Amirtharaiq member told Thurrock Nub News that a staff member from the Esso station and another from Costcutter attempted to stop the driver.

He added: "Unfortunately, one of our staff's hands got a cut when he tried to stop the car leaving.

"He is OK though and recovering. This is happening too often now."

Mr Amirtharaiq added: "They are coming with false number plates and we can't do a lot anything about it.

"The best solution for this is to bring in pay at the pump and I suspect it will eventually come to that."