A taxi firm boss has called for protection for cabbies after one of his drivers was robbed at knifepoint.

The man had a knife held to his throat during the robbery by two passengers.

Yasser Ali, manager of Allerton, Cosy and Prune Park private hire company, said the driver, Mohammed Rashid, 55, a married man with six children, was slashed in the face after a couple got into the cab at Cowgill Street, Manningham, Bradford, on Wednesday night.

An Asian man and a white woman got in the vehicle. The woman pulled a knife and Mr Rashid was slashed.

Mr Ali said: “There was a struggle and he was slashed in the face and punched a couple of times and they have taken all his money.

“He has got quite a few facial injuries. He spent all night in hospital and is now resting at home.”

Mr Rashid said he had £100 stolen. He said he was grabbed around the neck, punched in the face and suffered scratches, cuts and bruises.

Mr Ali said attacks on taxi drivers were commonplace. He said: “They are happening nearly every other week and the drivers are becoming really frightened. A couple of them are wondering whether it is worth the risk to carry on doing the job.

“We want some protection, like CCTV in our cars. The drivers want to know what the Council is going to do about it.”

Police said the woman took £100 from Mr Rashid’s pockets. The suspects escaped along a path which leads to Church Green.

Detective Inspector Ian Bryar, of Bradford South CID, said: “This was a serious and cowardly attack on a taxi driver.”

The woman is white, 20, 5ft 10in, with a freckled complexion and blonde hair in a pony tail. She was wearing a white top and a black coat.

The man is Asian, 25, 5ft 10in, of slim build, clean shaven with short black hair. He had black clothes.

Witnesses should Bradford South CID via 0845 6060606.