Police are appealing for public assistance after a taxi driver was assaulted in Sydney’s west yesterday.

Officers were told a taxi driver was seated in his vehicle at the Main Street taxi rank just before 11am yesterday when he was approached by a man who requested information on the fare.

The man began yelling at the 43-year-old driver who exited his cab, then flicked a cigarette on him and punched him in the face.

Other taxi drivers came to assist and the man walked away. The taxi driver suffered a cut to his face.

A number of taxi drivers attended Blacktown Police Station during the afternoon to report the incident.

Police are now looking for a man described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, about 180cm tall and unshaven with dark skin.

He was wearing light-coloured tracksuit pants and a grey hooded long-sleeve top with a light-coloured top underneath