Police have struck a deal in a row over taxis parking on yellow lines in Keighley town centre.

Officers will let Keighley Taxis vehicles drop off and pick up on the road outside their North Street office.

The agreement averts a threatened strike by drivers and a campaign by disabled taxi passengers.

The dispute blew up this week after traffic police issued fixed penalty tickets to two taxi drivers who parked on double yellow lines.

Keighley Taxis vehicles have used the short stretch of North Street for more than 30 years without a problem.

But about three months ago yellow lines were painted on the stretch when traffic lights were installed at the nearby Bow Street junction.

Immediately they heard about Tuesday's incident, users at Keighley Disabled People's Centre pledged support for Keighley Taxis bosses Linda and John Dixon.

Keighley councillor Irene Ellison-Wood also lent her support and sought an urgent meeting with police sergeant Allan Gee, the town's community liaison officer.

The councillor and Mrs Dixon struck a deal yesterday with Sgt Gee and Keighley police's Chief Superintendent Derek Bonnard.

Cllr Ellison-Wood says: "They can now pick up and drop off on the yellow lines. They're not going to be booked. But they can't park and have a cup of tea."

John Kirkby, a Keighley Taxis driver and leader of Keighley Private Hire Drivers' Association, had the previous day threatened a drivers' strike.

He said: "We can't pick up. Our drivers are risking fixed penalties. We've never had this hassle before. The drivers can withdraw their labour.

"Our drivers don't want to see any member of the public suffer. We have customers who've been with us 30 or 40 years."

John Dixon, who has run Keighley Taxis for three decades, told the Keighley News his firm carried many disabled people who needed the vehicles to be near the taxi office.

He also carries passengers for Bradford Council social services, meaning drivers must park outside and collect addresses in person so they are not revealed on the radio.

No comment was available from the police as the Keighley News went to press.

Following the incident with police on Tuesday, Keighley Taxis was forced to turn away passengers who called at its offices.

Linda Nosurak, who uses a wheelchair, was angry that she could not get straight into a taxi on North Street after calling at the office.

For the past 13 years she has used the firm, both because of its nearness to the town centre, and because it does not charge for her wheelchair.

She adds: "Only two taxi companies don't penalise me for having a wheelchair. Others charge me £1 to put it in the boot."

David Kiteley, who is also in a wheelchair, claimed other cars parked on double yellow lines without getting tickets.

He says: "Some of them park on the pavement and I have to go on the road to get round them."