Mr Stearn, who runs Abbey Cabs in the town, is protesting at pictures taken by Mr Miles that show a number of vehicles using the town's taxi rank as a parking spot.

He said: "I feel very strongly about this as some of the pictures taken are not fair. They show cars parked there which were there for a few minutes and were picking up disabled people, that is why they were there."

He added: "Mick Miles is against any sort of competition, which is why he has done this. He is there with his camera on his dashboard and he just takes snaps.

"He just doesn't want any competition but he has to understand there is more than one company in this town. He has told our customers not to use us and they have come and told us this themselves."

Last week, the Weekly News reported the frustration faced by cab drivers because of people parking in the taxi rank.
William O'Donnell and Michael Miles wrote in about their annoyance with residents, shoppers and workers using the taxi rank as a parking spot.

They claimed it had become difficult for them to park at Abbey End, which is meant to have enough space for up to four vehicles.

In a joint letter they said: "It's about time illegal parking was stopped in Leamington, Warwick and Kenilworth, especially on the Kenilworth taxi rank.

"On average at least 30 vehicles a day are driven onto the bus stop and taxi rank."

The drivers took pictures of vehicles blocking exit lanes and private hire cars parking in their spaces. They believe that the police are not doing enough to enforce the law or to deter people from using the area as a parking space.

Decriminalisation starts in Kenilworth in August, which will mean that enforcing parking regulations will fall to Warwickshire County Council rather than the police.

The change would also include the introduction of on-street parking charges and residential parking permits.

Until then the police are still in charge of enforcing the law and handing out tickets.

A police spokesman said that if the parking becomes a particular issue the safer neighbourhood team could step up the patrols in the area and would bring it to the attention of the traffic units."

Sgt Chris Cambray said in the past two weeks there had been verbal warnings and fines to people illegally parking.