TAXI drivers have spoken of their fears of working in Worcester following one of the city's drivers losing his licence for speeding to rid himself of drunken passengers.

Ziafat Hussain, chairman of the Worcester Taxi Owners' Association, said drivers constantly found themselves in a vulnerable position, particularly late at night.

At Worcester Magistrates Court on Monday, Iqbal Shazbad claimed such abuse contributed to him speeding on the A44 near Wood Norton, Evesham. The driver from Tolladine was disqualified for one year after he admitted dangerous driving.

"Some drivers will deal with abuse every day," said Mr Hussain.

"I would say that there is a higher percentage of verbal abuse than anything physical."

Wayne Neiklejohn, who has been driving a black cab for Severn Taxis for a year, said weekends were especially daunting.

"If you are parked at the taxi rank people will kick your taxi, bend the aerial and throw food at the vehicle.

"I can't see what police can do about it because they are not in your taxi when you pick people up," he said.

Mr Shazbad claimed in this week's court hearing he feared for his safety as he was transporting three drunken men to their homes in Evesham in March.

Shazbad overtook a car as they were travelling around a tight right hand bend and narrowly missed an oncoming police car.

Det Insp Jerry Reakes-Williams of West Mercia police said research was being undertaken into incidents involving non-payment of taxi fares, objects thrown at taxis and assaults and abuse against taxi drivers.

He said police officers had met the Taxi Drivers' Association members and listened to their concerns.

"As a result, we undertook a high-level presence on a specific Friday and Saturday night between 8pm and 4pm, using plainclothes officers and unmarked police cars.

"There were no incidents - and at the latter end of the two periods we monitored, virtually every third car was a taxi.

"We have, however, demonstrated that we have addressed their concerns."