TAXI drivers in Durham City were due to stage a lightning strike last night.

Members of the city's two taxi associations planned to stop work at 10.30pm in pro-test at a council decision to issue more hackney carriage licences.

The action, the first of a planned series of sporadic strikes, was expected to effect revellers leaving pubs after watching the England-Portugal European Championships quarter-final on big screen TV.

Earlier in the day, police warned people heading for a night out to make sure they left for home before the strike, had booked a private hire taxi car - unaffected by the dispute - or had arranged a lift.

The Durham City Taxi Association and the Durham Independent Taxi Association are angry that the Liberal Democrat-run city council has approved nine new licences - with the possibility of more in future - to cater for "unmet demand'' for taxis.

They are also concerned that the new licences will be for wheelchair accessible vehicles only and are concerned at plans for a vehicle age limit and all-white colour code for vehicles.

Drivers were expected to resume work at 7am today.

A council spokesman said: "We regret they are taking this action. The taxi associations have been fully consulted all along.''

He said the council would stand by its decision, which was based on Government policies.