Terrifying moment carjackers drag mother from car in Leeds before speeding with her children

Horrifying footage has captured the moment a mother was dragged from her car by thieves who then sped off with her three children still in the back - as four people are charged over the carjacking.

West Yorkshire Police were called to reports of the carjacking on Armley Ridge Road in Leeds on Saturday.

CCTV shows two robbers pounce on the woman, believed to be in her 40s, in broad daylight as she sat in her car on a busy road with her daughters, aged four, five and seven.

One of the men violently forces open the driver-side door of the black Ford Kuga and pulls her out on to the street.

Horrifying footage has captured the moment a mother was dragged from her car by thieves who then sped off with her three children still in the back in Leeds, Yorkshire

Defenceless, she puts her arms up to protect herself as he walks over her to get into the vehicle.

Another man, wearing a face mask, goes around to the passenger's side and gets in.

The women then jumps to her feet and clings on to the car door desperately trying to stop the pair making off with her children still sitting in the back.

But the robber is able to slam the door shut and speed off down the road, as the mother asks for help from passersby.

CCTV shows two robbers pounce on the woman, believed to be in her 40s, in broad daylight as she sat in her car on a busy road with her daughters, aged four, five and seven

Police have confirmed the thieves stopped soon afterwards and left the three girls on a nearby street.

The car was found burnt out an hour later.

Leeds' Crime Team have now arrested and charged two men and two women over the incident.

Ryan Fraser, aged 26, of Fifth Avenue, Rothwell, has been charged with robbery, kidnap, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

The women then jumps to her feet and clings on to the car door desperately trying to stop the pair making off with her children still sitting in the back, but the man slams the door shut and speeds off

Tom Woolams, aged 34, of Sixth Avenue, Rothwell; Nicole Swaine, aged 22, of Fifth Avenue, Rothwell; and Rachel Barrow, aged 28, of Sixth Avenue, Rothwell, have been charged with arson and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

They are all due to appear at Leeds Magistrates Court today.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: 'At 9am on Saturday (3/10) police were called to Armley Ridge Road where a woman in her forties had been dragged out the driver's seat of her black Ford Kuga by a man who drove off in the vehicle along with another man.

'The woman's three daughters, aged four, five and seven, had been in the back of the car and were left by the men in nearby Paisley Terrace. They were quickly found safe and well.

'The car was found set alight outside Rothwell Labour Club, in Fifth Avenue, Rothwell, shortly after 10am.'

Anyone who witnessed any part of the incident is asked to contact Leeds District Crime Team via 101 quoting crime reference 13200495257 or online via www.westyorkshire.police.uk/101livechat