Fed-up taxi drivers are refusing to pick up fares on some Stoke-on-Trent estates – after being repeatedly targeted by brick-hurling yobs.
Cabbies say Bentilee, Abbey Hulton and Meir have all become 'no-go areas' after coming under fire from youths throwing objects at their vehicles.
Now Stoke-on-Trent Private Hire Drivers' Association is calling on the police to take action against offenders and increase patrols in 'hot spot' neighbourhoods.
It comes after First Potteries warned it could pull or re-route some services after a gang chucked bricks at the windows of a bus in Dawlish Drive, Bentilee, earlier this month.
Association chairman Shahraz Yaqub said the problems are at their worst during the hours of darkness and at weekends.
He added: "Drivers are now refusing to go to certain areas. It means customers are having to wait for longer as their booking has to be sent back out to find a driver who will go.
"When it goes dark and at the weekend, those are the times when some taxi drivers don't want to go. When the cars are damaged it means they have to be off the road and that is reducing their earnings.
"There could also be a fatality as they are throwing bricks and stones at cars that are travelling.
"We are told that we're the eyes and ears on the streets, but it's a two-way thing and we need the police's support and we are keen to work with them. Something needs to be done."
Incidents include two cars being targeted in Abbey Hulton in as many days.
image:
http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/images/l ... whbuxx.jpgPictured: Mushtaq Hussain is facing a repair bill of £500 after his car was targeted in Abbey Hulton
Read more at
http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/taxi-dri ... pCPRHuV.99 
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