A 47-year-old woman taxi driver has vowed to return to work after she was robbed at knifepoint of her evening takings.

Lorraine Wasley, of Sutton, from Metro Taxis, was attacked by two men in a secluded part of Keighley on Saturday at 12.05am.

Mrs Wasley was petrified by her ordeal, and although she was not injured she was taken to Airedale Hospital suffering from shock.

Police said the incident started when the firm received a call to pick up two men from an address in Redcliffe Street, Keighley, and drop them off in the Spring Gardens Lane area of the town. The two asked her to drop them off in Mayfield Road.

When she stopped, the passenger in the rear seat grabbed Mrs Wasley by the neck and held a knife to her throat.

The passenger in the front seat demanded that she hand over her takings.

They ordered her to get out of the car before driving off.

The pair took Mrs Wasley's taxi -- a blue Peugeot Partner Combi, registration YH04 CZB -- and dumped it the following night on the same road. It was later found burnt out.

Mrs Wasley, who has driven taxis for 18 months, said: "I was scared, frightened and terrified. I am not getting a lot of sleep because of it.

"When they told me to get out of my car, they still had a knife to my throat.

"But I am not going to let them take my livelihood away. I am going to show them they are not going to scare me."

She added: "I just hope the police can catch them."

Metro Taxis boss John Meiehofer hoped a CCTV trial run, which was carried out last year, could be implemented across all taxis to act as a deterrent for such incidents in the future.

And he has offered a reward for the pair's successful conviction.

He said: "It is absolutely unbelievable. I was shocked. It is the last thing we want in the community.

"We are concerned about the safety of the drivers and it has put everyone on a sharp edge - not just for our company but everybody.

"You go out there to do a job and for the punters' safety. In this day and age people are using taxis to be safe. We just try to do a job properly."

The two assailants were described as Asian males, aged between 18-25.

One was about 5ft 2in tall and wore a long-sleeved white jumper. The other wore dark clothing.

Anybody with information should contact Keighley police on 01535 617059.