CABBIES today advised late night revellers in Burnley to take a safety-first approach to getting home as they announced a ban on private hire touting outside pubs and nightclubs.

Burnley's 400-strong Private Hire Association says walking out of a nightclub into a taxi is no longer an option for hundreds of clubbers after its members voted unanimously to outlaw touting and unofficial cab ranks outside licensed premises.

The move follows months of dispute with Hackney Carriage operators who said the illegal practice was robbing them of trade -- a dispute which at times spilled over into violence, says Private Hire Association secretary Duncan Allan.

NAfter an emergency meeting between the two sides, the private hire group agreed to an immediate ban on touting and declared that in future its members will only pick up customers who pre-book via the telephone or go into private hire booking offices.

And Mr Allan underlined the need for revellers to ensure they had safe transport home.

"We recognise the importance of getting everyone home safely and public awareness must be raised -- walking out of a nightclub into a taxi is no longer an option," he said.

"They should make sure they give their name when booking a taxi and ask the driver to repeat it to them -- never jump into a private vehicle, all taxis display council licence plates, be vigilant."

His advice followed police safety warnings following an incident earlier this year when a teenage girl left a nightclub alone in Hammerton Street and was trying to hail a cab when she was dragged into a works yard and raped.

And recently a Rossendale girl travelling from a Manchester nightclub got into an unbooked private hire cab and was subjected to a serious sexual assault.

Mr Allan said the Private Hire Association and Hackney operators would work together to ensure the no touting agreement worked.

He said: "We will both give full support to the police and council enforcement and will encourage them to take appropriate measures to punish any offenders."