A SCHEME aimed at protecting Burnley taxi drivers from attacks by passengers was launched yesterday.

The eight cabs are the first private hire vehicles in the borough to be fitted with the polycarbon safety shields, which will divide drivers from their passengers.

The borough's black cabs already have safety meshes built-in as part of their design.

Some shops and businesses were fitted with the same polycarbon following the Burnley riots in 2001 to prevent a repeat of their windows being smashed.

The move follows representations by the local private hire association regarding the safety of drivers.

Burnley Council secured funding for the shields from Burnley Community Safety Partnership, a group that brings together partners such as the council, police and others to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.

Margaret Lishman, the council's executive member responsible for community safety, said: "The aim is to trial the safety shields for six months and, if they are successful, then we will be looking for more funding so that more can be installed.

"This scheme is aimed at protecting drivers as they go about their work."

Peter Henderson, the council's principal licensing officer, said: "We contacted the private hire operators to see if they were interested in the idea and the firms involved volunteered to evaluate the shields for us."