EXTRA security measures are being introduced to protect taxi drivers following a spate of attacks.

Private hire and hackney carriage drivers called for more protection earlier this week after a string of violent attacks which has left them fearful, especially when picking up fares in Burnley town centre on Friday and Saturday nights.

Now a trial scheme has been launched by Burnley Council to fit security screens between the driver and passenger in taxis is taking place in a bid to help combat anti-social behaviour.

So far eight taxis have been fitted with the new screens.

Burnley Council is also planning to ask taxi drivers if they would like CCTV cameras fitting in their cabs and if they would be willing to contribute to the cost.

They have also arranged for a company that supplies surveillance cameras for cabs to make a presentation to taxi operators.

This comes after two Burnley Crown court cases - one involving a driver fleeing in terror and having his cab taken by rowdy passengers while the other involved a cabbie being mugged for his takings.

Peter Henderson, Burnley Council's principal licensing officer, said: "The safety of taxi drivers and the travelling public is of prime concern for us and we are working with local cab operators to ensure we are doing all we can to protect them from violence and anti social behaviour.

"We asked the taxi association to discuss with their members what kind of level of interest there is among them in installing surveillance cameras in their cabs and what kind of contribution they are prepared to make towards the cost.

"If there's sufficient interest then we can begin to seek funding for cameras."

Burnley Private Hire Association said earlier this week that the message needed to get out that bullying and intimidation of taxi drivers is not acceptable.

And they were concerned about the safety of their members and called for CCTV cameras to be installed.