POLICE in Durham have pledged to crack down on drivers who park illegally in a taxi rank near the city centre

Police have received several complaints about vehicles being left in the rank, near O'Neill's Irish bar in Claypath, which is a short distance from the Gala Theatre and the Walkergate complex.

Community Inspector Dick Dodds said: "People are parking indiscriminately, causing an obstruction and leaving no room for taxis.

"While it is also happening during the day, it is particularly important that people have easy access to taxis in the evening to get home.

"Taxi drivers need to be able to get their vehicles into the spaces designated for them, unhindered by other road-users."

Insp Dodds said his officers would police the area "robustly" - anyone found illegally parking on the rank would be given a £30 fixed penalty.