Taxi drivers in Darlington are to stay off the roads in protest over the introduction of an advanced driving test.

All cab drivers in the town will eventually have to take the test and will no longer be allowed to pick up fares if they fail - even if they already have a hackney carriage licence.

But the cabbies have accused the local authority of rigging a publicity stunt after a young female driver took the first test and passed at her first attempt.

Cabbies are claiming she was given a trial run paid for by the council so officials could capitalise on her success.

We know it is illegal, we have test cases to prove it, but we have to take it to court to be resolved

Mick Kennedy

They are planning to hold a protest on Tuesday.

But Darlington Borough Council has denied claims the test was a publicity stunt.

Taxi company owner Tom Bolam said: "She had a pre-test run... practice does make perfect and if you are going over the same route twice, you are not going to make the same mistakes twice.

"Barring knocking someone down, I think she was bound to pass the test."

Chairman of the Taxi Drivers Association, Mick Kennedy, said: "It turned out to be a gimmick. Darlington Council wanted a woman to take the test so they could say 'what are the male cabbies frightened of'."

A spokeswoman for the council said: "We refute any claims that there was any kind of rigging.

"We helped the driver in question carry out a pre-test driving assessment with an instructor, something that has been offered to all the drivers."

Legal advice

The cabbies are expected to attend a meeting on Tuesday at 1800 GMT to discuss the test.

No cabs will be running during the meeting, which could last several hours.

Mr Kennedy said: "At half-past five all the companies are closing their doors and they are not taking any bookings over the hour while the drivers and the directors turn up to a meeting with our solicitors.

"We are going to talk about a move to take the council to court.

"We know it is illegal, we have test cases to prove it, but we have to take it to court to be resolved."