A terrified driver was forced out of his car at gunpoint as he drove along a secluded road in Bradford.

The 54-year-old was driving his blue Honda CRX along Toftshaw Lane, off Shetcliffe Lane, in Bierley yesterday when a car travelling in front of him began to slow down, forcing him to stop.

Two people got out of the burgundy vehicle and went to either side of the car and pointed what was believed to be a handgun through the driver's side window.

They ordered him out of the car, jumped inside and sped off.

The car-jackers' vehicle, which was described as similar in shape to a Honda Civic or Rover 400, was also driven away by another man.

It is the latest in a spate of car-jackings that have hit the city in recent months.

Detective Sergeant Martin Taylor, of Bradford South CID, said no shots were fired and the victim was not injured, but he was said to be badly shaken.

He said: "It appears to be an unprovoked attack which has put the man through a horrendous ordeal. It is very much out of the ordinary and he has quite rightly given up his car and raised the alarm after they have driven off.

"It is an unusual attack because, to my knowledge, in the other car-jackings there has never been a firearm produced and there was no collision causing the driver to stop.

"Whether it is linked to the other car-jackings in the city is something we have considered but at this time we cannot say it is the case."

Specially-formed police squads hit the streets of Bradford following a spate of car- jackings in the city.

In three weeks earlier this year 16 motorists driving high value vehicles were targeted across the district with two techniques being used.

The first involves the car being bumped to create a diversion and with the keys snatched when the driver gets out.

The second involves thieves lying in wait at car parks.

Det Sgt Taylor said in last night's incident it is not known if the victim was followed or why he was targeted.

"The man was driving along a lane which is secluded with a field on one side and a banking on the other but can get busy because it is used as a rat run so we are looking for any witnesses who were around at that time."

The driver, who did not want to be identified, was able to give a brief description of his attackers.

The man who held the gun was described as Asian, 19 to 20 years old, approximately 5ft 7ins tall and of slim build. He was wearing a beige or creamy coloured anorak with the hood up and dark trousers. The second man was described as Asian.

Bradford South Police would like to hear from anybody who saw a burgundy vehicle behaving suspiciously on Toftshaw Lane or anyone who has seen the Honda, which has the registration number H101 FBA, since the incident at 5.50pm.

l Call Bradford South CID on (01274) 376485 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.