THE owner of an Ilkley taxi firm has has spoken of his shock after two of his drivers were subjected to vicious attacks within two days of each other.

In the first incident on Easter Monday a driver parked his vehicle in the main Ilkley carpark when a man approached the car and used a hammer to smash the back window screen.

The second incident took place around 11pm on Tuesday when a taxi driver picked up a female fare in Ilkley to take her to Otley. It is alleged the woman started to shout at the driver and when he tried to calm her down she pulled his hand brake and began attacking him physically and verbally. The driver suffered minor injuries.

Mohammed Jay said his company Ilkley Taxis, based in East Parade, Ilkley had been providing taxi services for 28 years in the town without incident - until now.

Jay added: "Both drivers are very shocked - one was in tears. We have been doing taxi services for 28 years in Ilkley and never had any incidents like this before now."

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: “A woman in her sixties has been arrested in connection with an assault which is alleged to have occurred in a vehicle on the A65 in Burley in Wharfedale yesterday.

“She remains in custody at this time while enquiries continue into the circumstances of the incident.

“Police have also received a report of damage to the rear windscreen of an unattended Toyota Avensis in South Hawksworth Street, Ilkley at around 12.15pm on Monday.

“No suspects were seen and the crime has been filed pending further information.

“Anyone who can assist with enquiries into this incident is asked to contact police in Keighley on 101, quoting crime reference 13180154386.”