A BOLTON taxi firm has slammed parking attendants who they claim tried to book drivers parked outside their premises at the weekend.

Owners at Bradshawgate Midland were angry because, they say, traffic wardens attempted to issue parking tickets to drivers outside their Bradshawgate offices on Friday and Saturday night.

Taxi drivers avoided being booked for parking by continually moving their vehicles.

Bosses at the town centre based taxi firm said they have parked outside their premises for years and do not cause any traffic problems for motorists.

They claim that regular customers have complain to them because cars are not parked outside their offices.

Majid Azim, of Bradshawgate Midland, said: "We have had to park round the back of our premises because of the traffic wardens. All weekend they are trying to book our drivers. Our customers are not happy because our taxi cars are not visible and parked outside for them."

Mark Wolstenholme, a customer who said he witnessed traffic wardens attempting to book taxi drivers last Saturday night, said: "I was incensed when I saw traffic wardens trying to book taxi cars. I have been coming in to town for years and have never seen anything like it.

"If taxi drivers are going to be moved by traffic wardens, how are people going out in pubs and night clubs in the town going to get home?"

A spokeswoman for Bolton Council, said: "Bradshawgate had been the cause of concern over recent months in the evening with cars parking illegally on both sides of the road.

"We were also recently made aware of taxis parking in bus lanes forcing passengers to get on and off buses in the road. Safety is our main priority and any vehicles illegally parked will be given a ticket."