A father-of-two told today how he thought he was going to be killed when he was attacked by a gang of car-jackers outside his village home.

Rugby Union player Nick Stamp (pictured), who is 6ft 3in, was set upon by four men brandishing a wooden club and a metal monkey wrench as he left his Harden home for work. He was hit on the body before the gang of Asian men sped off in his silver Peugeot 306 turb-diesel.

Detectives have condemned the brutality of the attack, which occurred early on Wednesday morning, and have warned other motorists to be on the alert.

They suspect that, only hours before, the same gang also attacked a 43-year-old woman outside her Shipley home and stole her Toyota car.

The woman, who does not want to be named, was hit on the arm with a wooden club by two Asian youths who demanded the keys to her Toyota Avensis at 6.35pm on Tuesday as she arrived home in the Scarborough Road area.

They drove off in the Toyota and in a red car which was similar to a red Peugeot Mr Stamp saw outside his home the night before the attack.

Mr Stamp, 35, a design engineer, said he was warming up his car when a silver Honda screeched up and two youths jumped out brandishing the wrench and the club. He said: "I instinctively knew they were out to rob me and challenged the two who came towards me asking what their problem was.

"One started screaming obscenities. He was holding a monkey wrench and he went straight for me. I defended myself and managed to get him off.

"Then I felt the club brush my ear. It was so fast I felt the wind as it rushed passed. If it had hit my head it would have killed me. Two others got out and then I started to panic. I realised I hadn't the strength to deal with them all."

"I have played rugby for 20 years, visited pubs and seen enough violence but I've never experienced anything like this aggression. They were screaming 'kill him'. They were like animals."

The incident lasted less than a minute before they drove off in his car and the Honda.

Detective Chief Inspector Roger Gasson, of Keighley CID, said people must be on the alert and he added: "This was a cowardly and vicious attack by men who were using weapons. We need to catch them and are calling on the public to help us."

Detective Inspector Neil Benstead added: "We are very concerned and urge motorists to be vigilant especially when approaching or leaving their vehicles."

Anyone with information about either incident should contact Keighley CID on (01535) 617083.

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