Cairns taxi driver bashed by passenger

A passenger has brutally bashed a Cairns taxi driver before stealing his cab.

The 65-year-old driver had asked his passenger to get out of his cab at Manunda on Tuesday afternoon when the man turned on him, punching him repeatedly in the face. The driver managed to get out and police say the passenger then stole the taxi.

A 28-year-old man and the taxi were found nearby and he's been charged with robbery with violence. The cabbie was taken to hospital in a stable condition.