TAXI drivers held a peaceful protest against the price of permits at Darlington's Bank Top railway station last night.

In the three years since Great North Eastern Railways (GNER) passed the franchise to Station Taxis, the cost to independent drivers using the rank has risen from £360 to more than £1,200. The increased tariff becomes due next Friday.

Drivers switched off their engines at 3.15pm yesterday, leaving their cars in view but refusing to take fares, in an effort to get GNER involved in talks to have the permit price reduced.

But although the cabbies planned to stay until about 7pm, they agreed "as a gesture of goodwill to GNER" to return to work shortly after 4.30pm, when representatives of the rail company agreed to speak with senior management on Monday.

The protest did not stop Station Taxis' own vehicles from picking up fares.

Bosses at the firm said there had been no complaints from passengers unable to get home.

Protestor Eddie Boyce said: "It really is a shame we have got to affect the public. We have approached GNER on the subject. We have exhausted every avenue and no one wants to listen.

"We just feel now the only way we can get GNER interested is to, unfortunately, affect the passengers."

A GNER spokesman said the dispute was a matter between the drivers and the taxi company, although he said the management of all of its contracts was monitored.

The taxi drivers say they are being forced to impose the highest prices in the area on passengers to cover overheads, including the permit charge.

Station Taxis owner Hilda Armstrong said last night the drivers' licence to use the rank obligated the drivers to remove passengers from the station as quickly as possible.

She has previously said the rise was to cover "management, administration, facilities and for the permit".