TAXI drivers brought a town to a standstill as a row between them a council escalated.

The cabbies staged the protest in Rawtenstall yesterday morning over what they described as a lack of consultation over proposed changes by Rossendale Council.

But council bosses hit back, describing the action as "totally unjustified" and insisting drivers struck after six colleagues had their licences taken away.

Police were brought in to ensure drivers involved in the two-hour go slow through the town centre were following the law.

A number of drivers were fined for not wearing seat belts and not displaying their driver badges.

A council spokesperson said: "The action was totally unjustified and caused disruption to many people.

"Surely it cannot be a coincidence that the drivers are taking this action within a few weeks of us taking licences away from six unsafe minibus conversions.

"We will not licence taxis that are not safe for public use." But Glenn Bulcock, vice- chairman of Rossendale Taxi Association, accused the council of putting profit before the interests of the taxi drivers.

He said: "The strike went very well and I think most of our customers are in support of it.

"We want to get the message out to the council that we will no longer be railroaded.

"We want to sit down and any changes that they make we want to be consulted."

Mr Bulcock accused the council of "railroading" changes on to them, including the need for new plates and badges, the cost of which he said would be passed to the customer.

The reason behind the strike was not safety but the lack of consultation, he added.

Mr Bulcock said: "We just want to be consulted about what is happening. But if we do not hear from the council within the next 48 hours there will be another strike very quickly."