Taxi drivers have hit back at claims a proposed hike in fares would put customers at risk.

Plans to add an extra 40p to the first £5 of each journey raised concerns among women's groups and pub landlords who feared the hike would deter people from taking cabs.

But drivers say they are trying to make the pricing fairer by doing away with double fares on Christmas Day and lowering the flagfall - the basic fare - from £2.30 to £2.20.

Drivers of Brighton and Hove's 484 hackney carriages have not had a pay rise in two years and say the proposals would put them on an equal footing with other workers who receive an increase in line with inflation.

Brighton and Hove City Council's licensing committee is due to make a decision on the proposals in March.

John Oram, chairman of Brighton and Hove Streamline, said the rise would only apply to the first £5 of the journey.

He said: "You have to remember that taxi drivers have been subject to a lot of fuel price increases in the last year as well."

Tony Turner, part owner of Radio Cabs, based at Seven Dials, said: "It is only a proposal, we won't know exactly what's happening until the council makes a decision.

"We have to put up with drug addicts, drunks, people swearing and shouting and others not having any money to pay their fare.

"The price of petrol goes up, taxes go up, licenses go up, yet our pay stays the same."

A poll of hackney cab owners from six taxi firms revealed two thirds were in favour of the rise.

Tony Krasnuik, secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union, which represents dozens of drivers, said: "On an average ten or 12-hour shift, drivers can earn as little as £30, which is way below the national average and we don't get sick pay or holiday pay. This increase would mean an extra £1 or £2 on each shift."

He said taxi drivers were only eligible for a pay rise once every two years and if they did not receive this increase they would not be able to have one until 2008.

Contrary to the story which appeared in yesterday's edition of The Argus, we would like to make it clear a decision has not yet been taken on this issue.

We would also like to make it clear the eight per cent rise would only apply to the first £5 of the journey.

How prices would alter
- Current flagfall - £2.30. After 716m the metre starts and adds 20p at gradually decreasing intervals from 645m to 179m to 160m.

- Proposed flagfall - £2.20. After 645m the metre would start and 20p would be added every 160m until £5 is reached. After this point the fare would revert back to the original pricing - Weekday and weekend evening flagfalls would drop from £3.10 to £3 and £4.10 to £4 respectively.

- The bank holiday surcharge would drop from £1 to 80p.

- The Chistmas and New Year double tariff would be scrapped. An extra £4 would be paid instead.