A TAXI driver was garrotted and left for dead by two passengers in a late-night robbery.

James Graham was left with severe bruising around his neck and chest following a vicious attack in which he was choked with a belt or piece of rope.

He picked up the two men outside Joe Rigatoni's restaurant, in Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, at about 2.30am on Monday. They asked him to take them to Saltwells Road.

During the one-mile journey, he started to feel uneasy and offered to drop them in a well-lit area. But they insisted he drive away from the housing, towards an industrial estate.

When the 41-year-old stopped the car and asked for the £2.50 fare he felt a ligature tighten around his neck.

"I was in fear of my life because I thought they were going to kill me when he started pulling it around my neck harder and harder," said Mr Graham, a taxi driver of 14 years, from Wicklow Street, Middlesbrough.

"He said to the other 'Go on then, get it,' which I assume meant they were after my cash bag.

"I started losing my breath and realised I was going to pass out, and I just blacked out. They must have continued to hit me about the head once I was out."

The men took the keys for the Vauxhall Vectra and locked Mr Graham, who is married with an eight-year-old son and a 21-year-old stepdaughter, inside his cab.

He woke up about 45 minutes later and tried to summon help by contacting the Boro Cars office. Meanwhile, taxi controllers became worried when he did not call in after the job.

They located him using a tracking device and sent a driver to check on him. The driver called the police when he found Mr Graham.

Mr Graham was treated by doctors at Middlesbrough General Hospital, who want to examine him again on Friday to determine if there is permanent damage to his eye.

Mr Graham has been advised to take two or three weeks off work - but he is not sure whether he wants to return.

He said: "I don't think those responsible can know what they have done.

"This is my living, but I don't know whether I want to go back because I would be worried that it might happen again."

Detective Constable Neil Robinson said police were confidant they had caught the attackers on security cameras and urged anyone who knows the men to contact them.

He said: "This could have been far worse. We could have been faced with a situation where Mr Graham was not with us today, and we are thankful that he is."

Anyone with information is asked to call (01642) 326326.