Taxi users in Great Yarmouth could be paying more for journeys after the first price hike in five years was put forward.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council is considering proposals to increase the price of journeys, as revealed in a report to its licensing committee.

But Taxi drivers have clubbed together to hit back at what they called 'ridiculous' proposals.

Taxi journeys are currently priced in one of four tariffs.

Should the council approve plans for the increase, the cost over one mile of 'tariff one' journeys - distances up to 176 yards between 6am to 11pm - would rise by £1.20.

A tariff one journey of 4.35 miles from James Paget University Hospital to Northgate Hospital would see fares rise by £2.43 to £13.13 from its current price of £10.70.

A tariff one journey of 6.5 miles from White Hart pub in Hopton to Great Yarmouth railway station would cost £18.50 - an increase of £3.50.

Manager of Ocean Cabs, Lesley Martin, has described the proposals as 'ridiculous'.

'I do not agree with it at all. We do not receive a lot of money as people find it difficult to pay for them as it is.

'I think the proposals are ridiculous because people will just end up not getting taxis as often. I do not want these plans to go ahead,' she said.

Members of Great Yarmouth Borough council's licensing committee will discuss the proposed increase at a meeting on Monday night.

If the committee approves the rise, the new fares will have to be formally advertised to see if there are any objections.

Vice chairman of the licensing committee, Graham Carpenter, said: 'Councils have the power to review hackney carriage fares and this normally happens at the request of the taxi trade as it is felt they are best placed to know whether their business can withstand any increase.

'The council has received a request from a local taxi company to increase fares, together with proposed new charges, and has informed plate holders and drivers of the company's proposals. One objection has been received.'

An independent driver who did not want to be named, said: 'The fare rise will kill us. It would cause big problems and have a big effect on business. I do not want it to happen.'

However, another independent driver who also did not want to be named believes the rise will have little impact on taxi drivers.

He said: 'The biggest problem we have is with the number of taxi drivers there are. I would not be against the rise because it may get rid of a few drivers.'