TAXI drivers who launched a lightning strike in Burnley today warned that there could be "a lot more to come."

The warning came after almost all private hire firms in the town ground to a halt for more than four hours on Friday night in protest at plans to raise taxi licence fees by 15 per cent.

Burnley Private Hire Association said today that there could be further strikes, even though they were are to meet with Councillor Philip Walsh, chairman of the licensing sub-committee. The meeting was due to take place today but was cancelled because some people couldn't attend .

Association chairman Sylvia Culley said that they would decide on their next line of action after the meeting.

She said: "Only one of the 45 private hire firms didn't go on strike and I am hoping it has made a big difference.

"Depending on the outcome of the meeting, there is the possibility of further strikes."

Nisar Chowdhary, an executive member of the association and driver for AK Taxis, said: "That was only stage one and there is a lot more to come if nothing changes.

"At the moment it is a local problem but we are members of the National Private Hire Association and we are willing to go to them for help.

"I do apologise for the inconvenience to the public but how would they feel if, because of this increase, they have to pay £3 a mile instead of £2?" Councillor Rafique Malik said: "I have raised this issue on a number of occasions. The increase is more than three times what we are proposing for the council tax and on the face of it it looks unjustifiable.

"What I am extremely upset about is that there is not a proper consultation with the private hire owners and drivers."

One woman taxi driver has spoken of her fright when her vehicle was surrounded, punched and kicked by striking colleagues.

Two young women passengers in her car became hysterical as the crowd attacked thevehicle in Burnley town centre on Friday night. The vehicle was eventually given a police escort out of town.

The driver, who was too frightened to be named, works for a Padiham firm and said she was unaware of the lightning strike by Burnley drivers.

She said: "It was terrifying. I was frightened because they kept saying I had not done as I was told."

Confrontations also took place between Burnley private hire drivers and taxi drivers from Rossendale. One person was arrested and questioned about an alleged public order offence.

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