TAXI drivers in Accrington today welcomed the news that they had won their battle to open the town's police station until midnight at weekends.

The town's cabbies were outraged when the station reduced its opening hours from 16 hours a day to 12 in September 2001, saying they feared for their safety.

They have been campaigning ever since to have the opening hours extended at least at weekends when they say they can expect at least four incidents a night which would need a visit to the station.

Since the changes the station has only been open from 8am to 8pm because police chiefs felt it was not cost effective to open longer.

But from Tuesday it will open from 8am to 10pm Sunday to Thursday, and from 8am to midnight on Friday and Saturday.

Mohammed Arif, chairman of Hyndburn Taxi Cab Association, said: "It's fantastic news, we are all glad. We have been campaigning for a long long time for the police station to open at least at weekends.

"On Friday and Saturday nights there are always three or four incidents at night where drivers need the police station.

"It's mainly drunkenness. People are drunk and get abusive. Drivers get assaulted and their vehicles are sometimes damaged.

"The town centre is busy and if there is any trouble the drivers go straight to the police station.

"And we see a lot of members of the public and drivers from Haslingden and Blackburn outside picking up the police phone.

"It gives more confidence to the general public and taxi drivers knowing the police station is open. It's an excellent step forward."

Inspector Phil Cottam, Accrington's police commander, said he had been pushing for the extra hours.

"We had concerns from members of the public about the police station only being open from 8am to 8pm.

"One of the things that was raised was that on Friday and Saturday nights there's a lot going on in the town centre and it just seemed those were the two nights when people appreciated having the station open.

"We lost 28 hours a week two years ago and we are replacing 18 of them.

"People may say it's not what it was before but we have had to make some decisions about our staff's welfare.

"We have put the bulk of the extra time on Friday and Saturday specifically to give people like taxi drivers extra time. It's a real step in the right direction."

Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe said: "I think it's really good news. I'm delighted to see resources being put into Accrington and I think it will be very much welcomed by the public."