TAXI drivers have described new medical forms which give them clearance to work as unnecessary bureaucracy.

Three months ago, Darlington Borough Council introduced the documents because of concerns about ambiguity in previous methods of medical assessment.

The new forms ask yes/no questions about various specific medical conditions.

Barry Pearson, the council's commercial and licensing manager, said the change was "to remove any sort of confusion or ambiguity for GPs completing the medical".

He said the tests had always been done to the same professional drivers' standard, but specific questions were not asked, so it had proved necessary to set them in a yes/no format.

Mr Pearson said the form was used by other councils.

They had been brought in following criticism by GPs who had found it difficult to complete the forms comprehensively.

"We just couldn't tell from the form whether they were answering yes or no," said Mr Pearson.

"We are not breaking medical confidentiality in any way," he said, adding that the council did not get access to drivers' medical records.

But George Jenkinson, an independent driver, said: "If I go and have a medical off my doctor and he passes me a script, that should be good enough.

"It has got nothing to do with them. These things are between you and your doctor. I cannot even remove my own medical cards from the surgery and pass them on to someone else. They have to do it through the post."

Colleague Linda Linley said it was the latest in an increasing collection of bureaucratic tasks being imposed on drivers before they could get their licences.