Taxi drivers across Shropshire are refusing to work on Friday and Saturday nights after suffering a barrage of threats, abuse and violence from drunken louts.

Private hire drivers no longer want to work lucrative late-night shifts because abusive behaviour is out of control.

Cabbies say they are treated as second class citizens and have suffered physical attacks and violent threats.

Customers have refused to pay their fares, damaged vehicles and attempted to steal driver’s takings.

Now police are urging all drivers to contact them and report any incidents.

Terence Spooner, boss of Ultimate Taxis in Newport, said he was struggling to get enough drivers to work weekend shifts because the problems were so severe.

He said a number of drunken customers seemed to believe they had the right to abuse drivers by threatening them, showering them with obscenities, refusing to pay fares and even attacking them.

Mr Spooner said: “It’s a real problem and it’s been getting worse. The people who are on our books don’t want to do a shift on a Friday or Saturday night because of the behaviour of customers.

“The problems seem to stem from drink because the people who are abusive have invariably been drinking large volumes of alcohol.”

A number of drivers said they had suffered physical attacks and one man had been stabbed in the leg with a broken glass bottle.

Others said they had refused to accept fares from potential customers because they could sense it would lead to trouble.

A spokesman for West Mercia Police said: “There is no excuse for abusing taxi drivers, either physically or verbally. They are conducting a public service and should be treated with due respect.

“Fortunately, most customers do behave in a proper manner. However, there have been instances where taxi drivers have been the victim of physical assault, usually by people under the influence of drink.

“We would urge everyone to show due consideration towards drivers.

“We will investigate all reports of abuse and where appropriate, charge offenders and put them before the courts.”

By Andy Richardson