TAXI drivers in Middlesbrough fear someone will be injured or even killed because their rank has been moved 200 yards down the road.

Cabbies say their new base in Newport Road is too congested and it is dangerous for them to use a mini roundabout because other motorists are unaware of its presence.

They say pedestrians have to walk in the road because the pavements are blocked by lorries making deliveries and motorists parking illegally.

Driver Rasub Afzal, 37, of Longlands, Middlesbrough, said the situation was an accident waiting to happen.

"There is a grave concern that there could be a fatal accident because there are vehicles on both sides of the road, even though it is supposed to be a taxi rank," said Mr Afzal, a taxi driver for five years.

"I would say it is only a matter of time before there is a serious accident here because there have already been near misses.

"A few days ago a driver was turning around at the new roundabout and a car almost went into the side of him."

About 60 hackney cabs used to wait at the old rank outside the bus station in Corporation Road, but the number of drivers has halved since it moved more than a week ago.

They say the move has reduced business by 50 per cent because people do not know where the new rank is.

Many of the cabbies' customers are old or in poor health and do not want to walk the extra 200 yards from the bus station.

One regular taxi user, who has a weak heart, said: "The reason I get a taxi was because it was easier then the bus, but it is not now because I have further to walk."

Middlesbrough Council is aware of the situation and has promised to monitor it.

A spokesman said: "Every effort has been made to make the new taxi rank as convenient as possible.

"A lot of consultation went into the new rank and we are monitoring it, but if anyone has any concerns they should contact us and we will carefully examine the situation."