FURIOUS taxi drivers who believe their jobs are under threat from a new penalty points system brought a meeting to a halt when they heckled councillors.

And angry cabbies are claiming the Blackburn Council scheme could force prices up and drivers out of business.

The drivers who stormed out of the meeting are now planning a mass meeting and will be considering staging a strike.

Around 100 private hire operators and drivers packed out a licensing sub-committee meeting and shouted angrily as council chiefs debated the new rules.

Operators employ 750 drivers in the Blackburn and Darwen area.

The scheme aims to punish drivers who break strict rules which include penalties for dishonesty, rudeness and lateness.

Cabbies who collect more than 12 points a year face having their license revoked by the council.

Umar Talaty, the owner of Elite Private Hire, slammed the new scheme. He said: "We already operate under strict by-laws and it seems as though the council is trying to take over from the police. "If these new rules are brought in, hundreds of drivers could be forced out of business. People are very upset and angry about what it is going on.

"The council is threatening to take our livelihood away but no one has even bothered to consult us."

But licensing chairman Mike Madigan defended the policy. He said: "I cannot see what is wrong with these proposals.

"Decent drivers and operators have nothing to fear with the points system. Only cowboys need to worry about losing their licenses."

He added: "I must add I do deplore the actions of certain individuals at this meeting.

"I deplore certain individuals making threats and personal comments to councillors during the meeting."

The sub-committee decided to defer the final decision on the plans to a full meeting of Blackburn Council.

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