A taxi marshal scheme is being suspended this weekend while funds are secured to continue the initiative.

As recently reported in the Evening News, the Tombland scheme was re-launched at the end of last month. In a bid to fund the initiative, which costs �20,000 a year to run, customers were asked to pay �1 per cab into a ticket machine to use it.

The charge came into effect after public money for the scheme ran out.

But some of the taxi drivers were unhappy about the move and boycotted the initiative.

Now, the scheme has been suspended until funding can be found and support is secured from the Hackney Trade Association. It is hoped it will be reintroduced to Tombland later this year.

Inspector Edward Brown from the Norfolk Nightsafe Partnership said: 'The taxi marshal scheme helps clubbers and party-goers get into taxis after a night out in Norwich.

'In recent months the start up funding has come to an end so partners will be looking at ways to provide a viable, long term solution for taxi marshalling in the city.

'The decision to suspend the scheme was not taken lightly. The Nightsafe partnership will now work together to identify how the service can be provided in the future. There is a genuine will to make it happen.'

The scheme was set up in 2008. About 1,200 people in Norwich use the Tombland taxi rank every weekend and more than 130,000 people have used the scheme.