TAXI drivers carried out their threat to strike at the weekend following a dispute over the position of a town centre taxi rank - and there could be more strikes on the way.

Most hackney carriage drivers stopped work at 11pm on Saturday after the Unicorn Hill rank was moved to Bates Hill on Friday.

Redditch Taxi Association chairman Mohammed Araf said drivers were not consulted about the move, despite being promised a consultation period up until the end of the month by Redditch Council.

They said the new rank on Bates Hill was dangerous as taxis constantly turned into and out of Unicorn Hill while picking up late- night revellers. They also preferred the ease of the Unicorn Hill rank.

Mr Araf said: "We were told there would be a 28-day consultation period, yet we find on Friday the Unicorn Hill rank has gone.

"This is a public safety issue. We don't want to strike but we are being left with no option."

Redditch councillor and taxi driver Mohammed Nasir also described the movement of the rank as "undemocratic" and dangerous.

But Redditch Highways Unit manager Jim Casey said the Unicorn Hill rank was always temporary while the bus station was being built.

He said the Bates Hill rank had been drawn up on temporary traffic orders and consultation would take place on the permanent orders.

There were no options on the table to move the rank back to Unicorn Hill, he said.

Council taxi licensing officer Eddie Isaacs said drivers would still be consulted about the Bates Hill rank as agreed by the executive committee.