LATE-NIGHT revellers spilling onto the streets in the early hours could be left to make their own way home as city hackney taxi drivers threaten to go on strike.

It could spell chaos for motorists trying to dodge drinkers and clubbers as they pour out of the district's hotspots when time is called.

Lancaster City Hackney Proprietors Association's secretary Malcolm Spence says the strike will be considered at the drivers' June meeting - but would be a last resort to resolve a row over bus-only restrictions in the city.

As reported by the Citizen, a number of cab drivers are angry at police enforcing bus-only rules, particularly on Spring Garden Street.

They claim the clamp-down forces taxis to take a detour round Lancaster's congested one-way system which pushes up passenger fares, while cabs freely use bus lanes in other cities.

"We should be able to use bus lanes because we are part of the public transport network," says Malcolm.

"In bad traffic, going round the town can take 45 minutes. The police have always been decent and turned a blind eye if you drove down Spring Garden Street - but suddenly they have decided to have a field day."

He says the association is seeking legal advice on getting the bus-only restriction lifted for taxis and wants to see cabs recognised as a public transport service.

Malcolm goes on: "Imagine 2am on Sun-day when the clubs have closed and there are loads of people needing transport home. No buses, no trains. The only public transport available is taxis.

"Strike is the last thing we want to do as it is not the public's fault and we want to give a good public service.

"If the county and police can agree a compromise that would be much better."

A county spokesman told the Citizen the issues were discussed in March when certain lanes were highlighted as unsafe for taxis while it was agreed others could be explored for cab use.

Lancaster City Council confirmed it is drawing up a traffic regulation order so taxis can use Parliament Street as a link from Skerton Bridge after 10pm.

A police spokesman says: "We are working closely with the councils on all the issues raised by the association. We will discuss these and other matters with them when we next meet."