A Skipton taxi driver was robbed at knifepoint by a passenger during what police have described as a "desperate attack."

The robber held a nine-inch blade to the driver's throat and demanded money and the black Toyota taxi.

The frightened victim was cut on the back of his head and on one hand before he gave the assailant about £40 and he fled.

The incident began when the attacker called Station Taxis in Skipton from a phone box in Gargrave and asked for a car to pick him up from near the petrol station in Gargrave on Sunday at 6.30pm.

He was collected, seated himself behind the driver and asked to be taken to Aireville Pool in Skipton.

On the driveway leading to the pool, the attacker suddenly asked for the car to be stopped and leaning from the back seat held a knife to the driver's throat.

He made demands for the money and the car but the driver grabbed the knife and the attacker's hands in a bid to free himself.

Skipton Inspector Tad Nowakowski said the men struggled before the robber was given the small amount of cash. He fled into the woods near Aireville School.

He added that the driver was brave in his actions to fight the man off but that he had been left shaken and upset by the attack.

The driver told police that he knew something was wrong as soon as the man got into the taxi.

Insp Nowakowski is now keen to trace the attacker.

"It sounds like a desperate attack, and could have been a lot worse. It is an isolated incident but it is imperative that we get him locked up. I have got a team of officers dedicated to trying to make this happen," he said.

He believes the assailant is a local man as he talked to the taxi driver about places like Embsay, Gargrave and Aireville Pool.

Officers are following up a number of potential leads but hope members of the public will also be able to help.

The robber is described as about 5ft 7ins tall, in his late teens or early 20s, of slim build and with possibly streaked hair. He was wearing a black and green checked scarf wrapped round his face, a black woolly hat, and a green zipped up fleece jacket.

Insp Nowakowski said: "I am quite certain this lad would have been seen in the Gargrave area at about 6.30pm on the side of the main road, and he could have been seen running away in Skipton."

Officers have been in touch with all local taxi companies warning them of the incident and offering security advice.

Anyone with information should contact Skipton police on 01756 793377 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.