TAXI drivers in Darlington last night criticised a new ruling which bans them from using bus lanes in the town's newly-pedestrianised heart.

Cabbies will be forced to use the routes around the town centre that are used by cars, which they predict could cause them "massive delays" and may drive people away from Darlington.

A meeting between taxi drivers and Darlington Borough Council earlier this week discussed the matter.

However, officials concluded taxis were not permitted in bus-only lanes.

Taxi drivers hit out at the decision and said Darlington would find it was driving shoppers and tourists to other destinations with better traffic policies.

Taxis have never been permitted to use bus lanes in the town, but drivers had hoped that the rules would be changed with the pedestrian project.

One driver, who asked not to be named, said: "We are not happy at all about it, we understood that once it (the pedestrian heart) came in, we would be allowed to use the bus lanes.

"If we have to use the roads, it will mean longer journeys, longer waiting times, it's just not on. Why should people in Darlington suffer longer journey times when you can go to places like Edinburgh or London? Taxis can go down the bus lanes there.

"This will just make the already packed roads more and more congested and we're certainly not happy about it."

Another driver, who would also not be named, said: "How can it not be appropriate for us to use the bus lanes?

"If they are trying to make it easier for people to get around, it's not the best thing to do, stop taxis getting about.

"If people have appointments or places to get to, they'll get caught up in the delays like all the cars. It's not good for anyone."

A spokeswoman for the council said the town was not alone in banning taxis from bus lanes and that the majority of local authorities in the North-East had a similar policy.

She said: "The council has never given any indication that taxis would be able to use bus lanes.

"Taxis cannot use them because it is safer if it is only buses.

"Buses stop and start regularly to let people on and off, which would cause any other traffic behind them to swerve round them, which could be dangerous."