COUNCIL officials will look at ways of helping taxi drivers pay for CCTV in their cars.

City council leader Simon Geraghty said: "We are actively looking at it, and are exploring what other councils elsewhere are doing on CCTV in taxis to see if it can work here."

The suggestion was raised privately at the Guildhall several weeks ago as the answer to preventing attacks on drivers.

Councillor Geraghty added: "Work is under way to see how much it costs, what type of systems are purchased and how it would work.

"I cannot give any guarantee of the outcome, but it is something we've started to explore."

The cost of CCTV in a taxi is thought to be about £300, although prices vary according to the supplier.

The Worcester Taxi Drivers Association (WTDA) has said it would welcome cameras in every taxi for security.

WTDA chairman Mohammed Ali said: "If the city council is willing to back us, we'd be happy to get CCTV in each cab. We have already been talking with the city council about CCTV, and we'd pay some of the cost if they will put something towards it too.

"CCTV would make cab drivers feel safer and I agree it would be a good thing to have."

The city council is responsible for licensing taxi drivers in Worcester, but has no obligation to pay for CCTV.

Taxi drivers went on strike last Saturday as a protest over recent attacks on drivers.

A fortnight ago a 52-year old driver was assaulted by passengers in Warndon, Worcester, and a week earlier a driver was punched in the back of the head by four customers in his cab.

Some cabbies are blaming the city council for creating unrest after a report said that two in five taxis are unsafe.

Meanwhile, taxis ran as normal during the weekend.