TAXI drivers in Darlington have vowed to strike over the introduction of a driving test for cabbies.

The town's 500 taxi drivers are planning industrial action and a protest march through the town centre, after Darlington Borough Council voted to introduce the driving standards test.

Drivers are meeting tomorrow night to vote on strike action and to agree to raise £13,500 to take the council to court over the test.

All new cabbies, or those who have driven a taxi for less than six months, have to take the extended test before being given a licence by the council.

Cabbies are angry because other drivers, even those who have been driving for 20 years or more, will have to take the test when they renew their licence.

Mick Kennedy, chairman of the Darlington Independent Taxi Traders' Organisation, said he believed the council was acting illegally. In the past, courts had ruled against councils wanting to impose conditions when granting licences, he said, adding that he had found two case studies to support his argument.

He said: "The strikes are very close now. We don't want to say when they are because that will enable the council to draw up contingency plans. But before we strike we have to vote on it, which we will do on Tuesday.

"We are also planning a mass protest shortly, through the town centre."