HUNDREDS of people were left stranded after taxi firms in Blackburn and Darwen went on strike on Saturday night.

And police had to be drafted in after tempers flared between the strikers and taxi drivers from other towns who helped give the stranded lifts home.

Inspector Robert Ford from Blackburn police said: "We understand some drivers came to Blackburn from other towns to pick people up.

"A few local taxi drivers resented this and it led to some disputes. We drafted in police officers but no arrests were made.

"The officers gave advice to people who found themselves stranded."

Furious Joan Cook, past-president of Blackburn Chamber of Trade and owner of the Rose Ball florist in Mincing Lane, Blackburn, branded Silverline taxi firm "disgraceful."

She booked a return taxi from her home to a party in Billington but was left stranded when the cab for the journey home did not arrive.

"I rang the taxi firm Silverline and they just said it was tough. I wouldn't have minded so much if they hadn't promised me earlier that they would pick me up," said Joan, who managed to get a lift from a friend. The strike which lasted from 11pm on Saturday night to 6am on Sunday came after a meeting on Thursday between the owners of the taxi firms and councillors at Blackburn Town Hall which failed to resolve a disagreement over tough new safety inspections.

Mick Curic, manager of Mill Hill Private Hire, Blackburn, said: "The new measures will put a lot of taxi drivers out of a job. They are unfair and don't fall in line with what is happening in other boroughs."

He added: "We reject the council's proposals and this is our way of making a stand. Hopefully we have highlighted the issue to people.

"We know a lot of people were stranded last night and couldn't get home. But this was something we had to do."

Mick, chairman of Blackburn and Darwen Private Hire Association, added: "It was a peaceful strike. The taxi drivers did not mind people coming from different towns to pick people up. We have done the same in the past."

Blackburn with Darwen Council has introduced a new set of rules in a bid to improve safety of cars.

The council has already upped the number of MOT tests for taxi cabs and private hire cars to three a year and increased testing charges.

The latest changes mean drivers will have to carry out safety checks once a week.

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