Police are searching for a taxi driver from the international cab-booking service Uber for allegedly raping a young woman in the Indian capital.

Investigators in New Delhi found a taxi that was abandoned by the 32-year-old driver, police said.

The woman was returning from a dinner engagement on Friday and had used the mobile app Uber to hail a car to drive her home.

The Press Trust of India reported that the 26-year-old woman dozed off during the drive.

When she woke up she found the car had been parked in a secluded place, and the driver then threatened her before raping her.

Uber said in a statement that it had suspended the driver's account and is working with police as they investigate the incident.