I will outline to C Noyce of Coldean (Letters, March 26) why taxi fares in Brighton and Hove are regarded as expensive.

My partner and I have been taxi drivers for more than five years and are fed up with the general public's attitude to our work.

Living in one of the most popular coastal resorts in the south, with its well-documented high cost of living, running a taxi is a very costly affair.

Our own expenses are £300 a month for the hire purchase of a vehicle, £475 a quarter for insurance, which is for the protection of our passengers as well as ourselves, £60 a month for servicing, £120 a year to license our vehicle - which when newly licensed cannot be more than three years old and is subject to strict inspection at any time - with Brighton and Hove City Council, £70 a year for a personal licence to be a taxi driver, which includes a police check and a medical for the protection of our customers, £60 a week for fuel and other various costs such as tyres, car cleaning and annual accountants' fees, radio money of £350 a month and so on.

Believe me, taxi driving is no walk in the park. My partner, who regularly works nights and weekends, is in constant fear of being attacked, assaulted or robbed of his takings.

There have been incidents when passengers have openly taken drugs in the car or got in with drinks and bottles and refused my partner's request to refrain from smoking.

It can be a very volatile situation when faced with four drunk men at 3am so we choose to say nothing for fear of recrimination.

So, Mr Noyce, the next time you voluntarily take a ride in a clean, safe, warm car, driven by an attentive, efficient professional, think about the costs we incur and the risks we take daily for you.

-Miss L Cummings, Phyllis Avenue, Peacehaven