A TAXI driver has spoken of the moment when he feared for his life after a brick was thrown at his cab's window.

The incident happened after Zahoor Ahmed, 38, a driver for DMC Taxis, Higher Barn Street, Blackburn, picked up a customer from the Sportsman Arms, Blackburn, and took him to Harwood Street in Darwen.

The father-of-six, who lives in Blackburn, said he was attacked after asking the customer for the £7.50 fare on Sunday night.

A large stone was thrown at the front window of the taxi, narrowly missing Mr Zahoor.

He said: "I called for the police as soon as the incident happened at 9.30pm.

"I was so scared I didn't want to move, but there was glass all over and a piece had gone in my eye, which I managed to remove without it causing any damage.

"I was fearing for my life because the man was shouting he was going to kill me as well as threatening me and hurling racial abuse at me."

Mr Zahoor, who was punched in the face by four customers in Darwen three months ago, said he was contemplating giving up work as a taxi driver.

He said: "I was so scared the first time it happened I felt like I shouldn't go back to work as a taxi driver, but I got over my fear and went back.

"This time I am going to have to seriously re-think my career, but it is not very easy these days to find a job.

"I have a large family to provide for, and I am not going to be able to do that for at least a couple of weeks until my car is back on the road."

Blackburn with Darwen Private Hire Taxi Association secretary Umar Talaty, said: "He could have been killed or injured very badly if the circumstances were different.

"We want the police to get to incidents sooner, which could be prevented by them being on hand."

The association is holding a meeting with chairman Mohammed Nawaz Khan, council officials and a representative from the police at Blackburn's Town Hall on Thursday, at 10.30am.

The aim of the forum is to address the underlying problems associated with taxis and to try and improve safety for the drivers.

Mr Talaty added: "At the meeting, we will bring up the issue of safety for drivers because the number of assaults on taxi drivers is on the increase.

"We will suggest the increased use of CCTV cameras and other means of improving safety."

A man is due to appear at Blackburn magistrates on Thursday, charged with racially aggravated assault and criminal damage.