Hundreds of Medway cabbies staged a protest at a council meeting prompted by out-of-town drivers stealing their fares.

Taxi drivers gathered outside the St George's Centre in Chatham Maritime before the meeting last night.

Mike Smith, chairman of the Medway Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (MLTDA), fears tempers could flare over the “flagrant encroachment” onto Medway’s patch.

He said: “Some of our guys are driving around and all of a sudden they see two or three parked up with their lights on. I’m surprised we haven’t had a bit of GBH. The drivers are getting really wound up about it.”

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Medway Labour group has previuolsy met representatives from the MLTDA to discuss their concerns.

Labour councillors put forward a motion on the issue at last night's full council meeting which gained cross-party support.

The council resolved to work with the MLTDA to find a speedy solution.

Cabbies driving in Medway have got to be licensed in Medway. Hackney carriages in the Towns are white with a top sign while private hire vehicles are red with a chequered side.

About 700 taxi drivers, including private hire and school-run only, are licensed by Medway council.

A spokesman for Tonbridge and Malling council confirmed its licensing team has recently been told “a few Hackney Carriage drivers receiving bookings for pre-booked journeys through a Medway private hire operator."

But the council defended Tonbridge and Malling drivers, stating the law says pre-booked Hackney carriages can accept bookings for journeys beginning and ending outside the district in which the vehicle is licensed.

Mr Smith described it as a “grey area” and his association was helping to work on a new licensing policy.

Video: Our reporter Graham Stothard on the taxi drivers' protest