A TAXI driver, pulled from his cab and robbed of his vehicle by thugs, is bravely refusing to quit his job.

Jahangir Vali, who lives in Daubhill, became a taxi driver only three weeks ago.

As revealed in the BEN last night, Mr Vali was dragged from his cab by three men outside the McDonald's fast food restaurant on Bury New Road, Whitefield.

The incident has once again called into question the safety of drivers in light of the tragic death of Bury taximan Naheed Javed, who died after he was robbed, beaten and deliberately run over by his own car earlier this month.

Mr Vali, who has a poor command of English, had picked up an Asian passenger from Bolton's Trinity Street railway station and was taking him to Whitefield.

Speaking through a fellow taxi driver he told the BEN that he had been asked to stop at an address in Bolton along the way where the passenger became engaged in a five-minute conversation with a resident.

The passenger got back into the cab and was driven the rest of the journey but as they were nearing the destination, according to Mr Vali, he was repeatedly asked for money by the passenger who was speaking Urdu.

The passenger climbed out of the cab and spoke to two other Asian men who grabbed around £30 from a frightened Mr Vali before zooming off in his Toyota Carina.

Mr Vali said: "I was very frightened. These man opened my door and grabbed hold of me. I'm not that hurt but I have got some scratches and bruises. It's the shock of the whole thing which gets to me.

"They were very aggressive."

The 42-year-old worked as a part-time labourer before landing himself a job with the taxi firm less than a month ago.

He said his taxi career was now on hold until he was able to retrieve the car -- which he bought only three weeks ago.

Mr Vali has appealed for people who spot his vehicle -- registration J285 YNW - to contact the police.

He added: "I have been told by colleagues that this incident is nothing. It apparently happens every weekend and sometimes the consequences are worse than what I suffered. We need more support."

Detectives are currently investigating the incident.

Taxi drivers went on strike earlier this month in protest at Mr Javed's death after the discovery of his body in Alder Avenue, Bury.