A TAXI driver who repeatedly lost his temper with passengers is to attend an anger management course in a bid to keep his licence.

Ashfaq Ahmad was hauled before Blackburn with Darwen Council general licensing sub-committee after a number of complaints about his actions.

Mr Ahmad was supported at the hearing by Maqsood Khan, chairman of the town's Hackney Carriage Association, who said he recommended to the committee that the driver take the course.

Today Mr Khan said the driver was not a danger to the public, and the anger management option, given the green light by the council committee, was the best course of action. It is thought to be the first time such a recommendation has been made in the borough, and one of the first incidents in the country.

Mr Ahmad was suspended for a month, but is now back behind the wheel pending a review of his behaviour in six months' time.

Mr Khan said: "Nowadays the public's behaviour is a lot different from how it used to be.

"You get the odd customer swearing and things like that. This individual driver was not able to take that sort of abuse.

"They were going to revoke his licence, that is the situation he was in. I thought the best thing to do was send him on an anger management course for some sort of therapy.

"A driver might get a complaint or two in a couple of years about his behaviour, but he had a few. He isn't a danger to the public, I wouldn't have supported him if he was a danger."

Taxi drivers in Blackburn have been targeted by attackers in recent months, and a 27-year-old driver was threatened with a revolver after being called to pick up a fare in Witton Parade, in May.

Today the National Taxi Association said it was a common occurrence for drivers to be insulted in their job, especially Asian drivers. And it said other workers, including police and licensing officers, would not be expected to take the same insults.

Paul Brent, regional director of the association, said: "Asian drivers take more abuse than normal and everyone has a cut-off point when they lose it.

"To suspend his licence and send him on a course I think is unreasonable. An anger management course for people that have had more than one complaint could be a good thing, but not to take his livelihood away as well."

Coun Colin Rigby, leader of the Conservative group on the council, said he could not comment on an individual case, but added: "It is the first time I have heard of this idea being put forward.

"I think the Hackney Carriage Association and the licensing committee have a fairly good relationship and it's worth a try to see if this thing works."

Coun Jim Blackburn, chairman of the licensing committee for the council, said: "There is no council policy relating to anger management courses.

"They are entirely voluntary and paid for by the driver.

"It was a recommendation of the committee and does not bind the driver."