Angry taxi drivers are defying a ban and parking on their rank in a Kent city centre despite it being commandeered by police for Lambeth Conference coaches.

Dozens of drivers staged a protest at Canterbury council offices on Thursday over the restriction and drove around the city centre in convoy.

Police supervised the dropping off of coach passengers, but after they and the vehicles had gone, the cabbies began to park up despite a Kent Highways order suspending the rank.

One driver said: "They must have got fed up with us driving round and round, but what else are we supposed to do?"

He added: "We thought they wanted to keep coaches parked here all day, but that’s obviously not the case."

The rank is also due to be closed to drivers all day Friday and for a large part of Sunday.

Police have not yet issued a statement.