CAB drivers who staged a lightning strike over permit charge increases are to hold further talks with railway station bosses.

Members of the Stoke-on-Trent Hackney Carriage Association (HCA) have agreed to suspend any further strike action until the outcome of Friday's talks with Virgin Trains.

As reported in yesterday's Sentinel, about 50 drivers took part in a protest outside Stoke railway station on Monday afternoon to voice their anger over plans to charge them £236 to use the station's taxi rank.

The new fee would be 67 per cent higher than the current £141 annual charge.

The strike took place after talks with Virgin broke down, but the firm said it was willing to resume negotiations.

HCA vice-chairman Sean Mirza said: "After the strike finished we had an additional meeting with Virgin.

"They told us they would meet with us again on Friday and we have agreed to keep any further action on hold until then."