TAXI drivers will be staging a 24-hour strike on Monday after negotiations with operators over fare increases broke down.

Members of the Bolton Private Hire Drivers' Association voted unanimously for the walkout in the latest episode of the pay row between drivers and firms in Bolton.

A spokesman from the union said all members would be joining the protest, except Pal Cars in Bradshawgate, which he said was working with the drivers.

The association is seeking a fare increase of 50p per mile but the Private Hire Operators' Association has offered a 10 per cent increase, meaning fares currently costing £2.30 would increase to £2.50.

The group also claimed that the radio rent paid by drivers would increase by £5.

The spokesman for the drivers said: "After a unanimous decision, we are striking for 24 hours on Monday.

"We are not getting the fare increase that we want so it is going to cost us too much.

"Drivers are having to work a lot of hours so we are suffering with our family lives and the increase in radio rent to £5 is just not justified."

The announcement follows on from the previous one-hour walkout in December over the dispute.

The spokesman said: "On January 15, the operators called the BPHA to the meeting to inform us that they will not increase the fare to £2.80 but to £2.50. Not only that, they also informed us that they have decided to increase the rent on drivers by five per cent.

"They are using this opportunity to make even more money out of their drivers, which we think is quite shameful.

"The BPHA proposal to the operators regarding the fares is £2.80. Furthermore increasing 10p every year in line with the rate of inflation for that year. Plus no radio rent increase this year."

Asif Vali, chairman of the Private Hire Operators’ Association, said: "We have had no notification that they are striking. Nothing has been received by the operators.

"If they are striking on Monday then that is up to them.

"We as operators have a duty to ensure we run a safe service for the public and we will run as normal.

"There will be a lot of drivers who will be working and some drivers will choose to stay off work and that is their decision."