THE taxi driver who died following a crash in Keighley early this morning has been named locally as 33-year-old married father-of-three Liaquat Mahmood.

Mr Mahmood, who was from Highfield, was driving a Vauxhall Vectra which was involved in a head-on crash in Park Lane shortly before 1.20am.

He was taken to Leeds General Infirmary following the collision, where he died soon afterwards. A passenger in the other vehicle, a black-coloured Rover, was seriously injured.

Mr Mahmood worked for 1st Choice Private Hire, which is based off Church Street in the town centre.

Company manager Kabir Hussain said he and his colleagues were in a "state of shock".

"He'd been with us for four or five years," he said. "He was a very honest, well liked and happy person.

"He had two young boys and a girl and was very close to me and my other drivers.

"If anyone wanted a shift covering or anything else like that he'd do so. He'd never take anything to heart, and he's going to be truly missed. All my drivers and also drivers from other firms are really upset. All we can do is pray."

Members of Mr Mahmood's family, friends and other well-wishers gathered in Devonshire Street, Highfield, to pay their respects earlier this morning.

Many tributes have already been posted online, with one person commenting: "God rest his soul. He was one of the nicest, most pleasant people you could meet."

Fire fighters from Keighley and Bingley, were called out to the accident at 1.20am today, and had to cut both casualties free from the wreckage.

A spokesman for Keighley Fire Station said: "We had to prioritise which casualty was coming out of which vehicle first.

"The Keighley engine was there first, but when the Bingley appliance arrived we dealt with one car and Bingley handled the other.

"We were both at the scene till about 2.55am. There was fuel spilled over both lanes of the road, and Park Lane had to be completely closed off."