PRESTON'S taxi drivers say just a handful of cabbies will be involved in a town centre roadblock to protest against the fuel price increase.

Reports had suggested that Preston would become grid-locked if the cabbies went ahead with their mass protest.

But Sandra Chesters, of Preston Hackney Carriage Drivers Association, called these reports 'over the top' and 'sensationalised.'

The mass go-slow will, in fact, include just six disgruntled drivers.

Sandra said: "This has been blown out of all proportion.

"The vast majority of taxi drivers deplore this plan and only six are planning to do it.

"It certainly does not have the backing of our organisation and we fear that bad publicity will wreck our excellent relationship with the police, the public and the council."

Reports in the local media had suggested that the town's 200 taxi drivers were preparing to bring Preston to a standstill in an attempt to attract attention to their cause.

Many drivers say they are going out of business as fuel costs continue to soar.

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