BASILDON taxis have new markings to protect passengers and stop cowboy cabbies earning a dishonest living.

All licensed taxis must now have stickers, emblazoned with their Basildon Council licence number, fastened to their cabs. Previously, taxi drivers were issued with magnet markings, which they were supposed to attach to their car when they were working.

These could be taken off when they used their car for personal reasons.

Dave Blackwell, chairman of the Basildon Hackney Carriage Association, said: "The problem was some drivers would either forget, or not bother, to put the magnet back on.

"That caused confusion because customers would not know for certain whether they were catching a proper taxi or not.

"It meant women in particular were in danger of catching unlicensed cabs, plus cowboy drivers could earn a bit of cash on the side posing as a taxi, even though they hadn't paid their license fee."

Council spokesman Chris Johnson explained the permanent stickers cut out confusion because they cannot be removed.