A BOGUS taxi driver made two attempts to lure a young woman into his car in Worcester.

The kidnap bids took place on Worcester Bridge at around 1.30am on Saturday, when the 23-year-old was walking home alone after a night out at the Westside nightclub, off Hylton Road.

"He was stalking me, I suppose," said the woman, who does not want to be named. First he was trying to chat me up, then he started to get nasty."

She noticed the white car when it pulled up behind her as she approached the bridge.

The driver, described as a clean-shaven Asian in his late 20s, shouted "Taxi".

She told him she did not need a taxi and carried on.

At the city side of the bridge, she found the car and the man waiting for her.

She realised that it was not a hire car or a Hackney cab as it had no sign.

"I asked him why he was driving round," she added. "He said he was bored. I said 'I'm going now'. He said 'Get in, you can have a free taxi'."

Up to that point she said the conversation had been almost friendly.

The mood changed when she told the man that he "would get nothing" for his offer.

The man climbed out of the car and walked towards her, saying "You give me nothing? You don't give me anything?"

At that point an older woman arrived at the scene, and the man jumped back into the car and drove off.

The woman, who called the police on her mobile phone, said: "A seventeen-year-old might have got into that car with him. It was extremely frightening."

Insp Jeremy Gregory, of Worcester police, said the incident was "very suspicious".

We're appealing for witnesses. We'd be grateful for any light that people can shed on it.

Worcester Taxi Drivers' Association secretary Lesley Borthwick was not surprised that the woman was frightened.

"Women walking at night by themselves are very vulnerable. People should make sure they have their taxi fare home and pre-book if possible, or go to a legitimate taxi rank.

Only Hackney cabs, which carry signs on top, can pick up people from the street.

Hire cars are not insured to do so and must be pre-booked.

All legitimate hire cars in the city carry a Worcester City Council identification plate on the rear.