TAXI drivers are threatening to boycott parts of Worcester because they are in fear of brick-throwing thugs.

Drivers claim that since last summer their cars have been attacked by bricks and stones on a regular basis.

"Sometimes it's three nights a week, other times it's twice a night," said Naziafat Hussain chairman of the Worcester Taxi Drivers Association.

But police say that over the past three months only a small number of such incidents have been reported to them.

Although many of the attacks have taken place at the Blackpole end of Cranham Drive by Cotswold Way and in Woodgreen Drive, Warndon, Mr Hussain said the incidents had happened in a number of locations in Worcester.

"There was one guy who had nine bricks thrown at his car in Lowesmoor," he added.

Now, some drivers refuse to drive down to the bottom of Cranham Drive because of the risk of being attacked.

"To be honest I don't blame them," said Mr Hussain. "It is only a matter of time before somebody gets seriously hurt or loses their life."

He said the overall cost of damage to Worcester taxis caused by the attacks ran into thousands of pounds.

Taxi driver Anne Murphy said that a car she shares with another driver was attacked in the Warndon area, in March.

It was being driven by the other taxi driver at the time.

The windscreen was smashed and had to be replaced.

Mrs Murphy said the cost of having to repair vehicles was crippling drivers who were already struggling to make ends meet.

"Not only did I have to pay for the windscreen to be repaired after it was smashed but it meant I lost a morning's work," she added.

Both called for more police action to stamp out the attacks and a meeting arranged between taxi drivers and police has been arranged for next week.

Warndon Beat Manager PC Duncan Eades said police records show that since the beginning of March, only five incidents of vehicles damaged by stones or bricks in Warndon and Warndon Villages, have been reported.

"Since March, only one taxi driver has reported an incident, when a traffic bollard was thrown at his vehicle in Lowesmoor, in the early hours and an investigation is on-going with a suspect identified.

"For us this is six incidents too many but to be able to stop this from happening and catch those responsible, taxi drivers/motorists need to report it to us immediately with a description of the offender.

"If we are not told about it, we do not know there is a problem until we read about it in the newspapers.

"We are actively policing the Warndon area, both in the day and at night, but for us to solve issues that people have they must report incidents. Anyone who witnesses such an attack or thinks they know who is responsible to contact us on 08457 444 888 or 999 in an emergency."