1 September 2010 Last updated at 14:40 ET

Police in Northampton link two attacks on taxi drivers

Police in Northamptonshire are linking two separate attacks on taxi drivers.

In the first robbery in Birchfield Road, Northampton, on Monday night a taxi driver was throttled and had his takings stolen by a man and a woman.

Officers said they were linking this to an attack on a second taxi driver who picked up three women on Tuesday night in Ashburnham Road.

The driver was treated for cuts to his face and hands after one of the passengers held a knife to his throat.

The women made off from the vehicle without managing to steal anything.

Extra patrols

All the women are white and aged in their late teens. One is skinny with light blond shoulder-length hair, another has black shoulder-length hair, and the third is slim with black hair.

Taxi companies have been given advice by the police in relation to the offences, and patrols will be stepped up in the Abington area of Northampton.

The first robbery was carried out by a couple who were picked up from George's takeaway store on Kettering Road.

The man is white, aged 26 to 28, 5ft 9ins (1.77m) tall and of medium build.

The woman is white and possibly named Sophie. She was aged about 18 to 22, 5ft 5ins (1.67m) tall, of thin build and had straight black shoulder-length hair.

She was wearing a light-coloured, long-sleeved jumper and tracksuit bottoms.