PUB-GOERS were left stranded in Clitheroe after a lightning strike by taxi drivers.

Drivers from two firms, Safcabs and Euro Taxis, parked up for the night on Saturday in protest at police checks on cars parked outside the three-car taxi rank on King Lane.

Mohammed Sarfraz, of Euro Taxis, said there were not enough spaces for the number of taxis needed on Friday and Saturday nights.

"There is nowhere else for us to go. We are having to drive around until there is a space in the rank and that wastes fuel and causes obstruction to other drivers.

"We have been promised more spaces but nothing has happened. The police have booked a couple of our drivers recently.

"On Saturday the lads just decided that they had enough and didn't want to work.

"There were quite a few stranded and we had people phoning up until four in the morning. I just had to tell them what was going on. " Mr Sarfraz said his drivers are considering holding another strike next weekend, possibly on Friday when the town is even busier.

A spokeswoman for Ribble Valley Council said they were aware of the problem and had written to Lancashire County Council, which is in charge of highway matters, to ask if other ranks could be set up in Castle Street at the weekends.

"We know that there can be 20 or 30 cars waiting to get into King Lane.

"There have been complaints from residents and that is why we are looking at alternatives in the town centre rather than extending the King Lane rank," she said.

She added that council officers were pursuing the matter with the county council.

Police Inspector Steve Haworth said ranks were provided by local councils in consultation with the public, police and taxi drivers.

The police enforced the ranking system, particularly where there were complaints from residents about noise and obstruction caused by double parking.

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