Reading Taxi drivers have demanded an inflation busting increase in local fares. The Reading Taxi Association (RTA) has requested an increase of 5.1% and are set for show down talks with council officials. Problems with the fares started when it recently became cheaper to get a taxi than catch a bus and now the drivers want in on the Reading gravy train.

Haji Banaras, chairman of the RTA, said: "With cabs costing upwards of £36,000 and there being only so many hours in a day that you can sub-let it out for, how do they expect us to make ends meet? And what is the point of us electing a representative to the council if they are going to ignore us? Reading Labour Party really needs to think carefully before they ignore the taxi lobby, or their voters aren't getting free lifts to the polling stations again."