A BUSINESSMAN has described how a gun was pointed to his head when he was robbed of his car in the driveway of his home.

The gunman, who had a scarf obscuring his face, threatened to shoot Chris Collinson, 54, unless he handed over the keys of his grey Land Rover Discovery Estate outside his home in Hollin Head, Baildon.

Mr Collinson, who works at an aluminium supplier in Yeadon, described the incident, which took place at about 9.40pm on Wednesday, as being like an out-of-body experience.

He said: “It was surreal, I was not scared and that’s not because I’m a big, brave man.

“It’s because I felt like it wasn’t happening to me, it felt like I was on the outside watching it happen.

“I was driving up the cul-de-sac and I noticed a car behind me, which was unusual with it being a cul-de-sac, and I didn’t recognise the car.

“My next-door neighbour but one had his car stolen off his drive the night before so I was already a bit suspicious.

“I was pulling on to my drive and I looked in the rear view mirror and saw the car, and the next minute there was a gun pointing at me through the side window.

“It was a handgun, and the man said to me, ‘Get out of the car and give me the keys. I am serious, I will do it.’

“He then referred to the car behind which had at least one other person in it, and said they had ‘stuff’ too.

“So I got out of the car and gave him the keys, then went inside and called the police.

“My wife saw a part of it and saw the car speed off, so she knew something was going on.

“My next-door neighbour has CCTV which did capture it, but the quality is not great."

After Mr Collinson went into his house to raise the alarm, firearms officers and the NPAS helicopter were sent to the area to search for the Land Rover and discovered it abandoned a short time after the incident .

Police said the vehicle was then recovered to allow further forensic tests to take place.

Mr Collinson said: “They just found it parked up. There was some damage, so they (the gang) must have crashed somewhere.

“I’ve been told they usually find somewhere to park it up and wait to see if the police follow the tracker to its location, and if police can’t track it, just go back and then do whatever it is they do with it.

“Luckily the tracker worked and police found it not too far away.

“It was a relief because the car had my diary in it, which might not sound a lot to most people but my diary runs my life and I would be lost without it.”

Police said the vehicle used by the suspects was believed to be a people carrier, possibly a Vauxhall Zafira.

They described the gunman as an Asian man, of slim build, believed to be aged in his early 20s.

It is thought he was wearing a grey hooded top and a cream woolly hat.

Councillor Debbie Davies (Con, Baildon) described the incident as “really frightening” and urged people to be vigilant.

She said: “There have been a few incidents recently of cars being smashed and broken into, but this attack on a person is taking things a step further.

“It’s a horrible thing to happen, and I just hope that police catch whoever is responsible.

“It is a strange location for it to happen, as there is no real way to make a quick getaway from the street.

“I would just urge people to stay aware and be vigilant.”

Councillor Mike Pollard (Con, Baildon) added: “I have only been told the basic details from police, but there was another incident a couple of years ago in the Langley Lane area, which is nearby, so it is slightly strange to have two such similar incidents in pretty much the same place.

“Given that, it is a matter of concern.”

Police inquiries into the incident are continuing and anyone with information is asked to contact Bradford District CID on 101, quoting crime reference 13170570721.

Information can also be given to Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.