PRIVATE hire cabbies have united with hackney drivers as they prepare for battle over bus lanes.

Solicitors have been instructed this week to start legal action against Lancashire County Council in the campaign to get bus-only restrictions lifted.

As previously reported, a traffic regulation order is being drawn up so taxis can use Parliament Street as a link from Skerton Bridge after 10pm.

But Lancaster City Hackney Proprietors Association also wants to use currently restricted streets such as the citys Spring Garden Street to cut through congestion and provide a quicker service.

Secretary Mal Spence said many of the private hires had joined forces with the Hackney Association in battle to win over the bus lanes.

"The costs could be quite high - we have the finances but with this backing we could go as far as we need to. The right to use the bus lanes would impact on private hires so we thought we should do it together," he said.

"It is a first time private hires and hackneys have got together under the same umbrella, but the world is changing."

Bernard Bradford, a self-employed cabbie who drives for 848, said there was full support for joining forces on the issue.

"We all have to work together on this," he said.

Bernard also wants to form an official Private Hire Association to give private drivers a stronger voice, and intends to discuss the matter with the city council at a meeting next Thursday.