TAXI drivers from York are being urged to join a protest in Leeds today against the “saturation” of unlicensed private hire vehicles and out of town minicabs.

The GMB union said yesterday that demonstrations would be held by members today in cities across the country including York as well as Leeds, London and Manchester, but a regional spokesman said this was inaccurate.

Instead, one regional protest was being planned at 12.30pm outside Leeds City Art Gallery in The Headrow, to which members from across Yorkshire, including York, were being invited.

The union said in February that cabbies had voted to block York city centre unless council bosses heed their angry protests against Uber drivers “flooding into the city”.

It said more than 100 Hackney and private hire drivers had attended a “stormy” meeting to vent their anger after City of York Council allegedly opened rendezvous points for private hire drivers across the city.

But a council officer urged them not to “take matters into their own hands,” saying the authority would investigate complaints and take action where appropriate.

He also said private hire pick up points were introduced on both Lendal and Davygate a year and a half ago to help address long standing noise complaints in a nearby area.

The union claimed yesterday that many towns and cities resembled the “wild west” at weekends because of an over-capacity in the market.

It said pay had been cut and drivers were being forced to work longer hours, often in areas where they were not licensed.