Dad-of two Tony Gunnell, 46, who has worked for Leyland-based Avacab for around six months, picked up a man at Tunley Holme, Clayton Brook, Chorley, at around 5.30am on Thursday.

The smartly-groomed man first asked to be taken to Leyland, but when the taxi reached Maypark at its junction of Preston Road he suddenly asked to get out.

Seconds later, Mr Gunnell had a black handgun pushed into his cheek as the passenger demanded his money.

Mr Gunnell said: "He was a pretty normal guy. The only thing I noticed when he got in was he had his hands in his pockets and his fleece was zipped up over his mouth.

"He looked like a normal guy. He did not smell of drink, his eyes were not glazed, he wasn't a druggie. That was the thing - he looked like he'd just had a shower. That's what I was shocked about."

The man told Mr Gunnell he was going to work but needed to stop at a garage. It was only when he demanded Mr Gunnell pull in before they reached the Esso garage in Preston Road that he started to suspect something was wrong.

"He suddenly shouted at me, 'Give me all your money'. I turned round and had the barrel of a gun pushed into my cheek.

"He wasn't sweating or anything, he was just staring at me."

Mr Gunnell handed the robber only pound coins and change - worth about £40 - while at the same time dialling the 99S 'driver needs urgent assistance' code into his radio - alerting his office to call police.

He said: "Eventually he probably realised I was telling the truth about not having any more money and he said, 'Let me out of the taxi'. I said the doors are open.

"The he put the gun back against my cheek and pulled the trigger. It went 'click'.

"That was the bit that really shook me up. And when it went click he didn't pull it away, he left it against my cheek and just stared at me again.

"I was not expecting that bit, when I gave him the money I thought he would be on his way."

Eventually the robber jumped out of the car and jogged towards a mini roundabout.

Following the attack police carried out a search of the area and door-to-door inquiries in a bid to track down the offender.

Det Sgt Sue Horn, of Chorley CID, said: "This is not a common occurrence in this area but we are aware that concerns have been raise by taxi drivers and we are treating this seriously."

Anyone with information can call Chorley CID on 01257 246363 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 .