Black cab drivers in Bridgnorth have been accused of taking business away from taxis in Wolverhampton.

City cabbies claim black cabs licensed by councils in other areas are breaking the law by touring the city looking for customers and are threatening strike action as tensions are “running high”.

Taxi firms in Bridgnorth, however, have denied the claims made by the city cabbies.

Wolverhampton Hackney Carriage Drivers Association (WHCDA) is writing to Wolverhampton City Council claiming black cabs from Bridgnorth, Walsall and Dudley have been seen around the city.

Nasim Ullah, WHCDA chairman, said “tensions are very high” and drivers are not afraid to strike again unless it is resolved.

The city’s 105 black hackney carriages went on strike twice in 2007 after a long-running dispute over private hire drivers coming into Wolverhampton without bookings.

Now drivers say hackney carriages licensed to other local authorities are doing exactly the same, which is also against the law.

Mr Ullah said: “This has become a major problem for us, black cabs from other authorities are coming into Wolverhampton and driving around looking for customers.

“We have seen them coming in, negotiate a price with people and then take them out of the city. I think they are doing it to undercut us and offer lower prices.”

Last year, Wolverhampton City Council increased the numbers of late night street patrols, resulting in dozens of private hire drivers being sent to court.

The authority has said the WHCDA should collect evidence of black cab drivers from outside the city touring for customers.

Tim Clark, spokesman, said: “If the trade obtains evidence, it needs to be brought to our attention so we can investigate it.”

However, taxi firms in Bridgnorth denied the allegations.

A spokesman for ATR Taxis, one firm in the town, said: “I can assure you none of our drivers would have time to do work over there. They have their time span, they come back here and that’s that.”

By Hannah Costigan