A Croydon mother has accused an Uber driver of punching and racially abusing her as he drove her home from a night out.

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Taleka White claims the app-based taxi service’s driver called her a "black c***" and punched her in the face after forcing her out of the car in the early hours of Sunday morning.

In a series of tweets posted yesterday, Ms White recounted the "horror" of the journey home to Addiscombe, including a number of photos that she claimed were sustained in the alleged attack.

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Ms White was the only passenger in the vehicle at the time, she said.

According to a Metropolitan Police spokesman, the driver is alleged to have become angry after dropping Ms White’s friend off at another location.

Ms White has said she will sue the tech behemoth Uber, which has been forced to defend itself against a number of complaints related to passenger safety in recent months.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Police were called to Gordon Crescent, Croydon on Sunday, November 29, at 3.25am following a report of an assault.

"Officers attended and a 21-year-old woman alleged that she had ordered a private hire vehicle from Brighton Road to take her and a friend home.

"During the journey the victim stated that her friend had got into a verbal dispute with the driver about the route he was taking.

"The victim's friend was dropped off at another location prior to the victim being dropped off at Gordon Crescent and, there, it is alleged the driver verbally abused the victim, forcing her out the vehicle and assaulting her.

"The driver then made off. The victim received minor injuries and declined medical aid.

"No arrests have been made. Enquiries are ongoing"

A spokesman for Uber told the Evening Standard: "Violence and discrimination of any kind is unacceptable and is not tolerated by Uber.

"We're investigating. We cannot comment on individual cases, but it’s our policy to suspend partners after serious incidents while we investigate."