Caught on CCTV: Petrol station manager attacked and robbed in street in front of son, 7

This shocking CCTV footage shows the moment Kuventhiran Sithambaranathan was violently attacked within seconds of leaving his parked car.

Images of the terrifying ordeal faced by the petrol station manager, who feared he was going to be stabbed or killed, have been released for the first time this week.

Mr Sithambaranathan was going to cash in just over £4,000 takings at the post office when he was set upon in broad daylight in Hall Street, Darlaston.

The CCTV shows the victim park up, get out of his car and go towards the back seat door. A red Audi then appears around the corner and pulls up alongside him.

Two masked men then run around the corner and head straight towards the petrol station worker, dragging him away and punching him as his young son remains in his car.

A third robber goes behind the Audi and pulls out the fire extinguisher, which creates a smokescreen as the red car pulls forward.

As they move out of shot of the camera, the man with the extinguisher runs over and sprays Mr Sithambaranathan directly in the face before the men grab the takings and flee.

One of them can be seen getting into the Audi A4 with false number plates, A61HBH which flees and then sped off along Wolverhampton Street.

West Midlands Police has now launched an appeal for anyone with information and for help in tracing the vehicle involved through Crimewatch.

Speaking about the "frightening" ordeal at around 11.15am on February 7, Mr Sithambaranathan said: "I thought they were going to stab or kill me. I remember the white powder everywhere, all over me and I could see nothing.

"I was really worried about my son. I didn't know, where is he?! I thought they were going to take the car as well because he is inside it."

The cashier was left on the floor with head and neck injuries and was later taken to hospital for treatment, but has since been discharged.

Following the Crimewatch appeal on Tuesday night, West Midlands Police spokeswoman Sarah Buxton, said: "We have received a number of calls about the suspect and the vehicle, and we are in the process of following up these positive lines of inquiry."

At the time of the attack, Det Con Isobel Griffiths, of Walsall acquisitive crime team, said: "The garage worker was quite violently attacked as he went about his business, leaving him with nasty injuries which needed hospital treatment.

"Unfortunately those involved had their faces covered and the red Audi A4 was on false plates.

"We hope that someone who was in the area that Saturday morning may remember seeing the car, seeing it being dumped somewhere or maybe spotting the occupants changing over number plates later that day.

"We urge anyone who has any information to contact us as soon as possible to help identify those involved."