A young woman was left terrified when a pair of carjackers dragged her out of her high-powered vehicle before speeding off.

The 26-year-old victim was “badly shaken” after two men demanded she got out of her black Volkswagen Golf R32, before pulling her out and jumping behind the wheel, a witness said.

The police helicopter was scrambled to reports of the carjacking, which happened in the small car park behind Drakes Fish and Chips in Bradford Road, Shipley .

Scott Snowball, 23, who was working in the shop at the time, said: “There were two youths sat on the corner of St Paul’s Road and Bradford Road when she went to get into the car.

“I don’t know whether they used force or not, but they have just jumped behind her, pulled her out and driven off.

“She was really shaken up. I feel sorry for the girl because she is only very slight and was in tears. I don’t think she’ll be going to get in her car with confidence for quite some time.”

Customers heading for the fish and chip shop came to help the victim, who works at a hair salon in Bradford Road.

A colleague said she had been too shaken up to return to work yesterday following the robbery at about 6.40pm on Wednesday.

Mr Snowball said there had been trouble in the area in the past.

“The car park is really bad,” he said. “Drug dealers come in there and there are all sorts of crimes committed. I finish quite late on a night and there are cars pulling up all night and drug dealing. There’s a phone box there as well, which they use. This has just stepped it up a level.”

Detectives are appealing for witnesses, particularly anyone who saw the car – with the registration HO08LLY – between the time of the carjacking and 9.30pm, when it was discovered in a compound off Beckside Road, Lidget Green , Bradford, after a search by the police helicopter. One of the suspects wore a hooded top and the other was described as tall and skinny.

A spokesman for Airedale and North Bradford CID said the car had contained valuables belonging to the young woman.

Anyone with information should call Airedale and North Bradford CID on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.