A SUPERMARKET employee underwent surgery for a fractured knee and ankle yesterday (Wednesday) after he was run over at a petrol station.

A petrol attendant working for Sainsbury’s Poplars store in Stevenage confronted a man driving a dark blue car on Sunday which he believed had previously driven off without paying for fuel.

The member of staff, a man in his 50s, approached the vehicle shortly before 7pm in a bid to stop the driver from leaving the forecourt.

As he did so the driver reversed the car and drove into the petrol attendant, causing injuries to his knee and ankle.

The vehicle then left the garage, situated off Magpie Crescent, without paying for petrol.

Emergency services were called to the scene and the victim was taken for treatment and surgery at Lister Hospital in Stevenage, where he remained yesterday.

A spokesman for Sainsbury’s said the supermarket was aware of the incident and is helping police with their enquiries.

A police spokesman said: “We’re still trying to track the vehicle but we’re asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward.”

Anyone with information can call police on non-emergency number 101.