Taxi drivers furious at police investigation of an assault on a cabbie staged an impromptu four-hour strike.

Firms said drivers did not feel safe but their actions have been condemned the ‘knee-jerk’ reaction as ‘unacceptable’.

Abdul Ghafoor had to be taken to hospital after he suffered facial injuries in the assault, which sparked a brawl in Colne centre.

Andrew Stephenson, Pendle MP, who lives close to Colne town centre, said: “Any attack on a taxi driver is completely unacceptable.

“From what I hear it was a horrendous incident and the attacker must be found and brought to justice.

“But I am quite concerned about the taxi drivers unilaterally walking out, particularly with young ladies and other people having to walk home after the pub.”

Taxi bosses said the drivers decided to strike in protest at the way police handled the incident and to highlight concerns over driver safety.

Mr Ghafoor, 28, said officers spoke to the man who had just moments earlier rained punches on him, but opted to let him leave without arresting him.

The married father-of-two said police did however carry out minor checks on his vehicle, including his MOT and insurance, despite him having a bloody nose and other visible injuries.

In addition, he said his requests to make a statement were rejected.

Police said the incident was being treated as ‘rowdy behaviour’.

But a spokesman said: “If a further complaint is made by any party involved then action could be taken.”

Mr Ghafoor, who works for Eagle Star Taxis, was taken by ambulance to Airedale General Hospital after the attack.

Speaking from his Nelson home, where he is now recovering, said the row began when he asked for his fare in advance because the passenger was drunk.

He said: “He started swearing at me and saying I was the Taliban, shouting ‘why won’t you take me home?’ and then he started punching me while he was still in the car.

“He punched me in my face, my legs and my arm and then he got out of the taxi and started kicking the doors.

“I got out and held his hand and pulled his shirt off to make him stay until the police came, but he punched me and pulled my hair.

“Three or four other boys came and started kicking me in the road and they punched me in the face and mouth.

“Initially nobody helped me, but then three or four other taxi drivers came to stop them.”

Mr Ghafoor said the brawl had been going on for between 10 and 15 minutes when police finally arrived.

He said: “When they came I pointed out the boy who had got in my taxi, and they spoke to him but didn’t arrest him or even take a statement from me.

“My face was bleeding a lot and I asked an officer if he was going to take a statement from me, but he said he didn’t need to because he just looked after CCTV.

“Even while my nose was bleeding the police officer came near my car and checked my tax disc, number plates and tyres. He wasn’t interested in me at all.”

Mohammed Akram, chairman of Pendle Private Hire Association, arrived on the scene two hours after the brawl and persuaded the cabbies to return to work at 4am.

He said: “The taxi drivers were angry because of what had happened and because no arrest had been made, so they stopped picking passengers up.

“I got the police sergeant to come out and he promised me that they would do their best to arrest the offender.”

Councillor Paul White, who was caught up in the chaos which ensued during the strike, said hundreds of people were left stranded in the town centre.

He said: "Whilst violence towards any taxi driver is absolutely unacceptable, and I would think the majority of the population would think that too, a knee-jerk strike left residents of our area who were enjoying the Colne nightlife in danger when they had not been involved in the incident at all.

“People were left without the opportunity to make alternative plans, meaning they had to walk home which is dangerous as you don't know who might be around at that time.”