The 25-strong group, all members of the Newcastle Hackney Carriage Association, had a heated face to face discussion with the council's licensing officer David Wilson.

The taxi drivers claim their livelihoods are being threatened by a flood of Berwick-registered drivers plying their trade in the city.

The number of hackney carriage licenses issued by Berwick Borough Council has increased from 46 to nearly 500 in less than two years.

It was their second visit this month and they have promised to return in greater numbers, bringing disruption to the town centre, if their protests are ignored.

Berwick Borough Council, which is being taken to the High Court by Newcastle City Council over its policy, maintains it is doing nothing illegal by issuing reduced price licences.