A gang of young car-jackers was today blamed for a spate of seven attacks on Bradford motorists during a 24-hour spree.

Detectives today told drivers not to panic but advised them to take extra precautions while driving within the city.

The culprits - believed to be four Asian youths - have used cars already stolen to target other high performance vehicles such as BMWs, Mercedes and Lexus.

Drivers - often early morning workers - have been bumped or shunted in order to get them out of their cars. Then the gang grabs their keys, often threatening or physically attacking them in the process.

Detective Inspector Simon Atkin, of Brad-ford South CID, said the team was first thought to have struck on Saturday, January 5.

At 7.25am, a green Rover collided with a black Honda Prelude on Shipley Airedale Road. The keys and car were stolen.

Det Insp Atkin, said that the Honda - registration K174 KWY - was then used to carry out similar highway thefts over 24 hours.

At 7.50am on Monday, January 7, in Back Lane, Clayton, it was reversed into a red Volvo 440. After the driver got out, one of the Prelude passengers jumped in and drove away. The victim saw four Asian men, all in their early 20s.

At 5.15pm in Captain Street, Bradford, an Asian man tried to steal a woman's keys as she was getting into her Vauxhall Frontera.

Half an hour later the stolen Honda bumped a parked BMW. The driver managed to flee with his keys.

At 6.10 pm, a man was driving his X-registered silver Lexus in Allerton Road when the stolen Honda struck him from behind. The victim was punched and kicked before the gang drove both cars towards Allerton.

Between 5am and 5.40am yesterday a green Mercedes coupe C230 was struck from behind by a red saloon - thought to be a Volvo - containing four Asians in their mid 20s.

At 8.40am, a BMW in Girlington Road, Girlington, was involved in a minor smash with a silver Peugeot 406 stolen from Clayton on Monday.

Four Asian males from the Peugeot demanded the driver's keys.

Anyone with information on these incidents or the stolen cars - red Volvo, registration M748 JRH, black Prelude, sliver Lexus registration X372 NUB, silver Peugeot X436 EET - should contact Bradford North Police on (01274) 376059, Bradford North on 376459 or Crimestoppers on (0800) 555111.