NEW Year revellers have been urged to put their safety first as hundreds of people go out celebrating tonight.

Women especially are urged to go home in groups or make sure they get a genuine taxi.

The warning comes after a young woman was seriously sexually assaulted in Cleckheaton as she walked home alone in the early hours of Saturday.

In some cities - especially London - bogus taxi drivers are known to pick up lone women.

The advice also follows the recent death of Wakefield woman Stephanie Hammill, 20, who was abducted after getting in a car she thought was a taxi.

She died after being hit by another car while making her escape.

Pc Dave McSweeney, of Huddersfield police, said: "We would urge people to make sure they are as safe as possible tonight. Taxis will be very busy, but make sure you get in a genuine one.

"Use firms you know, check that the drivers are wearing their identity badges and, if alone, always sit in the back of the car.

"If you do walk home, make sure you go in groups. Don't get separated and don't try to flag down a car unless you are 100% sure it is a white Hackney cab."

Unlicensed taxis are illegal, have not been examined for safety, may not have an MOT and are not insured to carry fare-paying passengers.

Also, drivers are not vetted.

Kirklees Council endorses two types of taxi - private hire and hackney carriage.

Hackney carriages can pick up passengers in the street, are all white and have a "taxi" sign on the roof. Private hire cars must be pre-booked. They have "private hire" on their doors, plus a firm's name and phone number.

Some also display rear window plates and front door signs with the Kirklees logo and taxi plate number.