AN anguished driver has spoken of his horror at discovering his car had been stolen – with his four-year-old niece inside.

Police are now appealing for information about the youngster's terrifying ordeal.

The little girl was sat in a child’s car seat in a car parked outside Azeem Yasin’s home on Necropolis Road, Lidget Green, at around 12.55pm on Sunday when it was stolen.

Thankfully the tot was found within a matter of minutes, after being dumped in Birks Avenue, the next street along.

Mr Yasin, 32, said he parked his car, a blue/grey Vauxhall Zafira, outside the house as he quickly ran in to leave some car keys for his wife Sarish Nasir, before heading out shopping.

But in a “matter of seconds”, the unthinkable happened and the car was stolen.

“I thought someone had kidnapped her,” he said.

“I lost all power in my body.

“I was trying to scream, but I couldn’t.”

He instantly phoned the police and it was while he was speaking to them that he received the news she had been found.

“I was running up Scholemoor Road and it was like I was running for my life,” he said.

“My legs were about to give way. I got round the corner and I saw her beautiful face.

“There was two gentleman that had heard banging of doors and came out and saw her there.

“The relief was something else.”

The tot had been taken out of her car seat and left on the nearby street.

He added: “She was a little bit upset, but I don’t think she understood what happened.”

Mrs Nasir, 28, said: “I’ve never been so shocked and scared in my life.”

But speaking about the moment the youngster was found, she said: “I was so relieved.

“It was the best thing ever.

“I’m just amazed she was absolutely fine.”

Mr Yasin added: “We’ve been here for 10 years, nothing like this has ever happened in the street.”

“I feel sorry for them when they get caught,” he added.

The hunt is still on to find the car and it’s thought there have been some sightings of it in the area.

“We’ve got her back and that’s the main thing,” said Mrs Nasir.

The couple praised the community, who offered help and support in the immediate aftermath of the nightmarish afternoon.

Detective Constable Ken Robinson, of Bradford District CID, said: “Thankfully a member of the public found the child and she was reunited with her family within a matter of minutes.

“This was clearly a hugely distressing incident though for the child and we are still working to trace the stolen vehicle and identify those responsible and ensure they are brought to justice.

“We would appeal to anyone who witnessed any part of this incident or with information about the whereabouts of the stolen vehicle to please call Bradford District CID via 101, quoting crime reference 13190009329.”

The Vauxhall Zafira has a vehicle registration plate which starts with BD56.