THE leader of Worecster City Council has come out fighting over the recent taxi drivers dispute by saying checks on cabs are vital to "drive up standards".

He has also urged taxi drivers not to go on strike again in Worcester by saying it benefits nobody.

Councillor Simon Geraghty insisted a report revealing 40 per cent of checked cabs were unsafe had to be published to let the public know.

Since then attacks on drivers have increased, with some cabbies blaming the Guildhall for causing unrest.

Coun Geraghty said: "Generally speaking, what's been happening over the last few weeks has benefited nobody.

"The city council does not condone the attacks on taxi drivers, and does not condone any of the violence.

"The inspections that took place in Worcester happen just the same up and down the country, and is done because we need to drive up standards of our taxi cabs.

"One of our jobs is to protect the public, and if we weren't doing these checks and then letting the public know, it wouldn't be good enough.

"We need more of a dialogue with taxi drivers. We need to work in partnership with them and the police, because nobody benefits from what has gone on."

The city council published the report one month ago after a series of sting checks on the condition of taxi cars in Worcester found 40 per cent were unroadworthy.

Since then attacks on taxi drivers have increased, with one 52-year-old driver needing surgery on his face after he was assaulted by passengers in Warndon.

As reported in the Worcester News, drivers went on strike in the city over the attacks.

Worcester Taxi Drivers Association chairman Mohammed Ali said he "hopes drivers would not" strike again.

The Worcester News also revealed how taxi drivers have asked the council to pay for CCTV in cars - a request it is considering.