A WORCESTER cabbie outraged by comments made by a city councillor has demanded an apology.

Conservative councillor Gary Kibblewhite wrote a letter to the Evening News about a helpful taxi driver he met in Southampton and ended by asking how often one could expect similar good service from Worcester drivers.

But self-employed Phil Richards claimed the letter was the latest in a line of slurs from an anti-taxi city council.

"I think he ought to apologise to Worcester drivers because people will get the impression a local councillor thinks we're all a bunch of miserly crooks," said the 55-year-old, from Westmount Close, Lower Wick.

Coun Kibblewhite's letter was about a driver in Southampton who drove to a conference venue in front of him to show him the route, free of charge.

But Mr Richards, who runs AllWays Taxis, says similar acts of generosity are commonplace in Worcester.

"How can he say this about 100 or so drivers in Worcester?" he said. How's he got any idea whether we do good deeds?

"We're always taking young women to their doors when they haven't got the full fare and things like that. It's an unwritten code."

Struggling

But Coun Kibblewhite said he wrote the letter to highlight good service.

"I wrote to the paper a couple of weeks ago after I spotted a young woman with children and her hands full of shopping struggling to open a taxi door while the driver sat in his seat," he said.

"I was accused of slagging off taxi drivers after one bad experience, so when I had a good experience I decided to write again.

"As far as the taxi service in Worcester goes, if you want to get from A to B and open your own doors and put luggage in the boot it's fine.

"I'm just pointing out good service and bad service."