THREE people -- including a 15-year-old boy -- were today being questioned by detectives probing the murder of a taxi driver who was battered to death and robbed.

Tariq Javed is believed to have made a desperate call for help on his radio before he died. His body was discovered in Alder Avenue, Bury, alongside the M66 at Fairfield just before 6pm yesterday. His death today prompted calls for strike action among angry colleagues in Bury and Bolton who fear for their safety.

And today representatives at Bury taxi firm, Peel Taxis, where the dad-of-four worked, confirmed a meeting would be taking place this afternoon, which would also be attended by Bolton cabbies.

A spokesman for Bank Street Taxis confirmed they had been contacted about the meeting, adding: "People will probably be going from here." Hours after the murder of Mr Javed a taxi driver was also robbed at knifepoint in Little Hulton.

Mr Javed's private hire Toyota Carina saloon was found burned out and abandoned in the grounds of nearby Fairfield Hospital.

Mr Javed, who lived with his wife and teenage children in Richard Burch Street, Bury, had worked for Peel Taxis for about five months. He had worked for a number of other local taxi firms in the past four years.

Mr Javed's nephew, Thabish Javed, aged 19, said: "He was very hard working and a loving father and husband.

"This is a sickening Crime which has shocked the whole community. If anyone has any information they should come forward -- these people need to be caught."

According to colleagues at Peel Taxis, Mr Javed, aged 48, was due to collect a fare from the Mason's Arms in Walmersley Old Road around 5.30pm but failed to do so.

Minutes later, the firm received a call from a witness in the Fairfield area to say that a taxi driver was being beaten up by two men.

Mr Zafar Iqbal, a cab dispatcher with Peel, said last night: "No one really knows what happened.

"All we know for certain is that a woman called the office and told us that one of our drivers was being killed."

An appeal for witnesses has now been launched by police who are trying to piece together the taxi driver's movements shortly before his death.

Iqbal Javed, the vice-chairman of the North West Independent Hackney Association, supported calls for strike action.

He said: "We are continuously ignored by the police despite the fact that our drivers are regularly attacked, robbed and verbally abused by customers.

"We have a living to make and we have families. We deserve better protection by the police.

"A man has been murdered in cold blood tonight and we will take whatever action is needed to protect our drivers."

Today police confirmed that three people -- two juveniles aged 15 and 16 -- and a 30-year-old man -- had been arrested overnight in connection with Mr Javed's death and were to be questioned by detectives today.

Swinton detectives are probing the assault on the 53-year-old driver in Little Hulton. He was pinned to his seat by a bar placed across his neck, before cash was stolen.

Three people had earlier been picked up in the taxi from the Colliers pub, Sale Lane, Tyldesley, before being dropped off in the Chedworth Crescent area of Little Hulton, just before 12.30am.

Two people, a man and woman, got out of the cab before the third man attacked the driver.

Anyone who has information should contact Swinton CID on 0161 872 5050 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.