HACKNEY carriage drivers have blockaded Watford town hall in protest at a council decision to remove the limit on the number of licences it issues.

Around 50 vehicles arrived at the visitor's centre car park at about 8am this morning (Friday).

Drivers were met by managing director of Watford Borough Council, Alastair Robertson, and head of licensing, Alan Gough.

The drivers representative, Shujait Sardar, said: "Our first aim is to get this decision overturned but if we can't do that there are other options we want to discuss with the council."

Mr Robertson said that he was reluctant to ask Mayor, Dorothy Thornhill, to come out and meet with the drivers while the blockade was in effect.

Mayor Thornhill met with the drivers at around 12.30pm.

Mr Sardar said: "She did not say anything particularly helpful. We will now have a meeting to decide what we are going to do.

"Then we will either leave or go and get our night blankets. It is still early in the protest but we might be here for weeks."

A council representative said that it was still considering its official response to the drivers' actions.

At a meeting of the council's licensing committee on Monday, September 5, councillors resolved to end the limit on the number of hackney carriage licences granted.

Delimitation will come into effect on Friday, October 21, subject to confirmation at the next committee meeting.

The council has said it will enter into consultation to decide on the details of the scheme.

Hackney carriage driver, Roy Morris, said: "This is an unjust decision and it must be stopped."

The blockade continues.