Taxi drivers from Newcastle have been protesting on the streets of Berwick in a row over cut-price licence plates.

Cabbies said their business was under threat by up to 400 drivers a night operating in the area with plates from Berwick Borough Council.

The council has been criticised for slashing about £100 off licences which can be used anywhere in the UK.

The authority said it was doing nothing wrong. The matter is to be heard at the High Court later this year.

In a rare move, Newcastle City Council is bringing the legal action.

'No locality tests'

It is claimed cabbies from as far afield as South Wales are getting licences from Berwick.

Chris Chandler, chairman of the National Taxi Association for the North East, said: "The problem is drivers do not need to be licensed from the council where they operate.

"It means Newcastle officers have no authority over them.

"The drivers also don't have to do locality tests so they don't know their way round.

"Berwick council seemed to have stumbled across this money-making scheme."

In a statement, Berwick Borough Council said: "The council would neither act in a way which it knew to be unlawful or inappropriate.

"The council's only criteria is whether the applicant and vehicle is fit as a hackney carriage.

"If someone doesn't live in the area it doesn't mean they are not fit."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/7323867.stm