A report into the number of disability-friendly taxis will be launched this week.

Details of the study will be unveiled at the 24th annual general meeting of Bradford Access Action (BAA) - a disabled rights organisation.

The investigation will conduct a survey of the numbers of wheel-chair friendly taxis in Bradford and it will also look at the needs of disabled people in the city.

The results of the study will be presented to Bradford Council and passenger transport executive Metro next year.

Members of BAA hope the report will put pressure on the Council to introduce more vehicles suited to disabled passengers.

Figures issued in a Bradford Council report in August, show Bradford has the lowest per cent of accessible taxis in comparison to three neighbouring authorities.

The Council has 224 hackney carriages, only 11 of which are access vehicles. This means only 4.9 per cent of licensed taxis in the city are accessible.

In Leeds the figure is 34 per cent, Kirklees 12 per cent and Wakefield 14.1 per cent.

Bradford Council introduced a policy as a result of the findings meaning ten more taxis suitable for disabled passengers are to be introduced each year.

And by 2020 every new taxi cab in Britain must be access-friendly, but BAA members said 15 years is too long to wait.

Wheelchair user Jill Grant, 58, of Wibsey, said: "At the moment we can't do anything spontaneous. Arranging to go into town for a meal and a few drinks is a nightmare."

The former teacher and BAA committee member said tasks such as shopping, could be turned into an expensive and difficult task due to the lack of access taxis.

"Private hire cars are so expensive, and they can decide when and where you shop, but we need to use them because of the lack of suitable hackney cabs," she said.

Jill Grant said the wait for an access vehicle at city centre stands and outside Bradford Interchange or Bradford Foster Square was also too long.

"I would like to see a lot more accessible hackney carriages on the stands. I would like waiting times reduced to no more than ten or 15 minutes," she said.

BAA member Su Peace, 44, of Queensbury said it was the London style carriages that should be introduced.

"If you go to London they are all accessible. It is something we really need up here," she said.

Councillor Michael Walls (Cons, Queensbury) chairman of Bradford Council's hackney carriages and private hire panel said: "Currently we have a substantial number of taxis and private hire vehicles that are disabled access, but there are not enough for everybody."

The BAA AGM will be held on Wednesday, October 5 at Carlisle Business Centre between 4.30pm and 7pm.

Those interested can call (01274) 433873.