A TAXI rank operator suffered head injuries in an attack during an incident involving around 20 people.

It happened at the Rapid Taxi base in Railway Road, Darwen, at around 5.30am on Monday.

The 22-year-old taxi operator is believed to have been hit with a brick and remains in hospital.

Taxi drivers from Rapid Taxis and Response Taxis in Darwen are now considering not picking up revellers on New Year’s Eve in response to the horror attack on the operator.

The taxi firm is calling for a full investigation into what happened.

A spokesperson for the firm said: “These are just some of the weekly incidents involving anti-social behaviour in the town.

“These types of incidents are putting people’s lives in danger and a lot of staff here are very concerned about what has happened.

“There cannot be an excuse for an attack on our taxi base like this. People are just trying to do their jobs.

“An attack like this at our base could have ended with someone being killed.”

Ahead of tomorrow’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, he added: “It is the busiest night of the year.

“People are concerned that this could happen again.”

Police said they were called shortly before 6am on December 27 to reports of a public order offence involving approximately 20 people in Darwen.

A spokesperson for the police said: “Emergency services attended the scene outside a taxi rank on Railway Road and a man in his 20s was taken to hospital with a head injury.

“A 21-year-old man from Blackburn was subsequently arrested on suspicion of affray and has since been released under investigation.

“An investigation into the incident has been launched and enquiries are ingoing.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting log number 0305 of December 27th.