A GRANDFATHER thought he was going to die when he was dragged 30 foot by his own pick-up truck as he desperately tried to stop it from being stolen.

Mick Armstrong injured an arm, leg and his hands when he grabbed the steering wheel of the Mitsubishi L200 through the driver's door as a thief drove it away and punched at him.

And he feared the damage could have been worse as one of the vehicle's wheels spun dangerously close to his head during the ordeal.

"I was hanging on for dear life. He [the thief] was speeding so fast. It pulled me down to the floor," said Mr Armstrong.

"He was going like a lunatic. He nearly wiped out three cars as he escaped."

Mr Armstrong had gone to tend to his four horses in Westfield Lane, Wrose, and had parked-up to open the field gate when a stranger "grabbed his keys out of nowhere," he said.

At the same time, a white Ford Transit van pulled-up between Mr Armstrong and his truck, giving the thief time to climb into the Mitsubishi and start the engine.

Mr Armstrong, a retired gas engineer, ran to his vehicle.

"He had just started the car up as I opened the door. I grabbed the steering wheel as it was something to grab hold of and I wanted to grab hold of the keys. I got hold of it with my left hand. We were fighting over the steering wheel.

"He was putting it into gear. I was hanging onto the steering wheel.

"He had started it up and I grabbed the steering wheel to get the keys off him.

"He kept punching my hand and my arm to knock them off the keys," the 64-year-old said.

"I did not think anything at the time. I just wanted to get my keys out and stop him.

"My leg gave way as I tried to get up."

Mr Armstrong was dragged along the road until the truck was moving too fast for him to cling on any longer.

He was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary following the incident, which happened just after 6pm on Wednesday, and released later that night.

"I'm lucky to be alive because I was dragged along. I could have easily have gone under the car.

"I hit the ground and so I thought he was going to run me over. The back wheel was four inches from my head," Mr Armstrong said.

"I thought I had had it. It's a big, heavy car."

Despite Mr Armstrong's desperate attempts to stop the theft, he wishes he had done more.

"It happened so quickly. It all happened in a matter of seconds.

"I wish I had punched him instead of getting my keys. I wanted to get my keys out to stop him," he said.

"I did not get that good a look at him. I was lying in the road and this couple helped me up."

Mr Armstrong is now recovering at his home in Wrose.

"I feel alright now but I'm a bit sore. I have a bit of discomfort to my leg and my arm. My leg feels worse than my arm. At least I am alright.

"It took some of the skin off my arm and shoulder," he said.

The pick-up truck was found, without its keys, by police in Otley Road, Bradford, yesterday morning. It is being examined by a forensics team.

The suspect is described as a white man, 5ft 10ins tall, with short mousey brown straight hair with a fringe. He was wearing a grey hooded top.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Anyone who has information about the robbery is asked to contact the Western Area Safer Roads and Neighbourhood Support Team (SRANS) on 101.

"Information can also be given anonymously to the independent Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111."