A taxi firm boss is urging all his cabbies to accept card payments after passengers were reportedly left stranded because they did not have cash on them.

Mark Robinson, co-owner of Vokes in the Medway Towns, has written to the minority of his drivers who only accept cash to get card machines fitted before it becomes mandatory.

Mr Robinson said that at least 85% had already installed payment appliances but a few were "locked in the old days" and now needed to "get ahead of the game".

In an email to them he wrote: "We're coming under pressure from passengers who are increasingly making the assumption that all drivers are carrying a machine so you're losing out of bookings and this will only increase in future.

"Other drivers are encouraging us to make it mandatory because they are having to run cover to work where a machine is required even though other cars are sitting right on the job."

Vokes currently has about 170 cabbies on the circuit and Mr Robinson urged those who had not complied to "take the plunge".

The policy comes after a teacher said she had to walk home at night after seven drivers on the rank outside Rochester railway station refused to accept card.

Sue Maddocks said while the journey was only a mile long, she felt uncomfortable walking through the High Street, known for its lively night-time economy and along dimly lit roads.

Like many other passengers, Sue does not usually carry cash on her, and in even less so since Covid when contactless payment was encouraged.

She said: "I believe people should be given the option. I'm not happy carrying round a wallet full of money."

She added cash machines were not always working and she has in the past been "hustled" for money at ATMs by beggars.

Sue said she's always been loyal to Medway licensed taxi driver, but recent experiences were tempting her to switch to rival operator, Uber.

Drivers from the internet app company, who were licensed by Transport for London, swamped Medway more than three years ago.

Taxi drivers across Medway currently can insist on cash only, some blaming charges made for card transactions and the time it takes to process them.

But Cllr Stuart Tranter argues that after Covid, when contactless payment was encouraged, it should be considered the norm now.

Cllr Tranter said while he understood that drivers should not be out of pocket nobody should be left in a vulnerable situation.

He said: "This is primarily about passenger safety. There is no reason why in certain rare and vulnerable situations people should feel abandoned. Not just women, but the elderly or disabled.

"I'm not sure what the answer is. Perhaps it could be written into the code of practice.

"I've had several examples brought to my attention about people not getting a lift because like so many of us they don't carry cash.

"Getting into a licensed taxi is known to be the safest option of getting home.

"I don't buy into drivers having to be out of pocket. So many businesses build the cost into their payment structure, why can't cab companies do the same?"

Nigel Jackson, chairman of Medway Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association said feelings were divided among cabbies.

There is not yet a formal policy on whether Medway's hundreds of cabbies should accept card at all costs.

Mr Jackson said: "There are arguments for and against.

"Although signals have improved for mobile phones in Medway, there was a time when you'd drive out to a remote areas like High Halstow and then have to drive into central Hoo to get a signal.

"It can be embarrassing, you could turn up at a station not get a signal and the passenger would see their train departing.

"In this day and age you would expect to pay by card.

"But there are financial drawbacks for drivers, who are self-employed.

"Card payment can take two to three days for the driver to receive and card payments also cost the driver 3% in processing rates for each transaction.

"If you're living hand to mouth, you could find yourself begging or borrowing by the end of the week.

"It can be hard to swallow if you're trying to put food on the table."