TAXI drivers have issued a warning saying that they will not tolerate any abuse directed at them during Christmas and New Year.

The campaign will be run by the South Lakeland and Barrow Community Safety Partnership (CSP). It will also be supported by South Lakeland District Council (SLDC), Barrow Borough Council and the police.

Barrow CSP raised concerns that taxi drivers are expecting increased verbal, physical or racial abuse during the festive period.

Sarah Ibbetson and her husband, Mark, are self-employed taxi drivers in the Windermere area who say they have been on the end of different forms of abuse on a regular basis.

Sarah said: "It's almost as though it has become socially acceptable to abuse taxi drivers and that has to change.

"Mark was punched in the face a few weeks ago and abuse is commonplace these days.

"I have had my mobile phone thrown out of the car, the doors of the taxi are regularly kicked in and we get all sorts of threats and abuse.

"They wouldn't put up with it if someone abused them like that in their job, so why should it be alright to behave like that just because I drive a taxi?!"

Some drivers have said that the problem can also be under-reported at busy times, fearing they may lose out on important business.

The campaign will see special posters and beer mats placed in pubs, and special stickers in taxis to warn customers.

Licenced premises on the Barwatch scheme may also be informed about taxi drivers who are abused if their establishments are linked to incidents.

Anyone identified as abusing taxi drivers could also face being banned from premises under the Barwatch scheme.

SLDC Councillor Graham Vincent, Chairman of the South Lakeland and Barrow CSP, said: "We want to send out a message this this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated.

"The minority who inflict this abuse on people just doing their job should know that they are committing a crime and there could be serious consequences."