LATE-night cab services in Stowmarket could be under threat unless a taxi rank is set up to keep rowdy revellers in check.Julie Row, of Stowmarket Taxis, based in Station Road East, claims drunken clubbers converge on her office at weekends and display threatening behaviour when told there is a wait for a cab.

LATE-night cab services in Stowmarket could be under threat unless a taxi rank is set up to keep rowdy revellers in check.

Julie Row, of Stowmarket Taxis, based in Station Road East, claims drunken clubbers converge on her office at weekends and display threatening behaviour when told there is a wait for a cab.

The 41-year-old believes a taxi rank would solve this problem, as it would enable people to congregate in one area in the knowledge a taxi would arrive.

She said: "It's got to the point where we need a taxi rank. I definitely don't feel safe working on Saturday nights.

"There's no cage or anything like that at the office. It's just me sitting behind a desk and you do feel vulnerable.

"If there was a taxi rank, they wouldn't need to come down here. At least then they would know where to wait and that they would get a taxi."

On Saturday, her office door was repeatedly hammered and the windows thumped by one man demanding a taxi.

Mrs Row said the problems started after the disgruntled customer was told he would have to wait up to two hours for a cab. He then tried to find another taxi but returned to the office with two others when he failed.

Mrs Row, who has run the business with her husband for two years, said: "We saw him coming and fortunately a male colleague of mine managed to bolt the door before they came in, but they started to bash it down.

"It's lucky there was someone in the office when they came along because I don't think I could've bolted the door quick enough."

She added: "I don't earn enough money to put up with that kind of behaviour and I don't think I should be expected to either."

The incident has left Mrs Row, who splits her time between co-ordinating and driving cabs, considering closing the office from 1am at weekends, instead of 5am.

Stowmarket town council has considered the possibility of setting up a taxi rank as one way of solving the problem.

Malcolm Baker, town council clerk, said: "At the moment there's no definite taxi rank in the town. "There's clearly a demand for taxis at various places and we'll be taking the opportunity to review the situation."

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