A couple have spoken of their terrifying late night ordeal at the hands of a cab driver and his friends who, they claim, attacked them with iron bars.

Scott McMahon, 27, needed hospital treatment after being beaten by up to 20 men who attacked him in Legrams Lane in the early hours of Sunday morning.

His girlfriend Angela Sharp had to flag down a passing ambulance which took them to hospital.

Police, who are treating the matter as a serious assault, today appealed for witnesses.

The couple were travelling home from a works function in Great Horton, Bradford, when they explained to the driver of their private hire vehicle that they had only £7 and asked him to take them as far as he could towards their home in north Bradford and drop them off.

They claim the driver refused and said he would drop them back at the taxi office, but instead drove to Legrams Lane.

It was there that they were attacked after getting out of the taxi by the Frame One Snooker Club.

Mr McMahon is a sign fixer with Butterfield Signs, Bradford, and has a six-year-old son, Lewis.

"I'm having to take time off work because I can't get my hard hat on - my head's too big," he said.

"My head was split open, I have got 12 stitches in my head and bruises on my forehead, nose and arms. The man went for my girlfriend Angela with an iron bar and I got in the way. She says another 20 men got out of cabs and joined in. The doctor said it's a good job I've got such a thick head."

As well as reporting the assault to police, they have complained about the driver to the licensing authority Bradford Council, which says it will investigate after the police enquiries have finished.

Police, who are treating the incident as a serious assault, confirmed they received a complaint at 12.50am on Sunday. Acting Detective Inspector Paul Fountain, of Toller Lane Police, said: "We appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time to contact us with any information."

Anyone with information about the assault is asked to contact Toller Lane Police helpdesk on (01274) 376259 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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