TAXI drivers are celebrating after winning their appeal against the introduction of a controversial colour policy.

Earlier this year, Durham City Council decided that the city's fleet of hackney carriages should eventually all be white.

Drivers and operators objected, saying that people would not be able to tell local cabs from those from neighbouring areas, such as Chester-le-Street and Sunderland, if a problem arose

They also said it would create difficulties, as many manufacturers did not make white cars as standard and drivers would face two-month waits for vehicles or having to pay for re-sprays.

Now the city's magistrates have overturned the council's decision after Adrian Fets, chairman of the Durham Independent Taxi Association, lodged an appeal.

The council has three-weeks to appeal against the decision.

Mr Fets said: "We were awarded costs. It has cost the council thousands of pounds of council taxpayers' money. It is an absolute disgrace.

"The council didn't put forward any reasonable reason for the cars to be white, except that other vehicles in the county were white."

Bryan Roland, secretary of the National Private Hire Association, said: "The legislation says rules imposed on taxis have to be reasonably necessary."

The council's Liberal Democrat leader, Fraser Reynolds, said the council would look at the court's ruling and consider whether to appeal.