A coffee shop worker was taken to hospital with blurred vision and headaches after a high-powered laser was shone in his eyes.

Ashley Thompson, 23, a barista at the Costa Coffee drive-thru in Leeds Road, Huddersfield, was also threatened with a knife when he went to confront two youths.

The boy and a girl, aged about 16, were hanging about on the fire escape of the Travelodge behind the Costa store on Monday night.

Customers complained that a laser pen was being shone at them through the window.

A delivery driver was also dazzled outside.

The driver called police and Ashley, who was the lone member of staff, went to confront the youths. The laser was shone in his eyes and the boy warned him to stay away or he would “slash him with a knife.”

An ambulance was called and the driver was treated at the scene.

Ashley was taken to hospital, complaining of vision problems and a severe headache. He was off work yesterday.

Store manager Mark Roby told how the drama happened just after 9pm.

He said the driver and customers complained they had been targeted by the laser pen.

When Ashley went outside he was threatened.

Ashley had pressed the store’s panic button and Mr Roby was alerted at home.

The store normally closes at 10pm but the drive-thru is open 24 hours a day.Because there was no-one else to cover, the store was forced to shut for the night.

It re-opened at 5.30am yesterday.

The two youths fled and Insp Danny Groiser from Huddersfield South Neighbourhood Policing Team last night appealed for information from anyone who saw people acting suspiciously outside the Costa Coffee store to contact them.

The boy was described as mixed race and aged about 16.

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.