CABBIES have had their plea for a limit to be put on the number of hackney cabs allowed to operate in Worcester turned down.

Worcester Taxi Driver's Association asked for the restriction to be imposed amid fears for their trade and to reduce chaos at city centre ranks, particularly The Cross.

But city councillors have agreed to allow fleets to grow at their own pace after hearing a report by traffic consultants Halcro at a licensing meeting at the Guildhall last week.

Although the report, commissioned by the Association to calculate demand for taxis in the city, accepted a limit could be justified, it concluded the move would ultimately not be in the public's interest.

Vice-chairman of the Association, Khurshid Baig, insisted there were already a sufficient number of taxis and the dramatic increase over recent years had become a nuisance.

The number has jumped from 46 to 117 since 1994.

He said problems were arising because of the overwhelming majority of taxis fighting for spaces in The Cross, leaving other ranks like Foregate Street and Queen Street empty.

"Drivers have families to feed and can't afford to spend time building up the other ranks," he said.

"There are too many trying to reach the seven spaces at The Cross."

West Mercia's Inspector Rob Reynolds said problems in The Cross resulted from too many people in the day and a build-up of cabs late at night.

"When taxis start backing into Broad Street and Angel Street, people start queue jumping," he said.

"We're concerned about disorder and public safety, but it isn't our role to police ranks."

Councillors agreed customers needed to be more aware of other ranks in the city to alleviate the problems.

The decision was made to maintain the "status quo", but council officers said better communication with the Taxi Association in the future would means solutions to the problems could be found.