Black cab staff walk out over pay

About 2,000 black cabs are made at the plant each year

Nearly 200 employees at the only firm in the UK that makes black cabs have gone on strike over pay.

Staff at London Taxis International (LTI) in Coventry walked out indefinitely on Tuesday, saying a 2.9% increase offered by the company was not enough.

The industrial action has halted all production, but the company says it has enough vehicles stockpiled to meet current demand.

A handful of workers formed a picket line on Tuesday outside LTI's plant on Holyhead Road in the city.

Managing director Peter Shillcock said the strike was very disappointing, saying that any long-term action could be very damaging for the company.

Employees 'determined'

He added that he does not know what the workers want.

Chris Liddell from the Transport and General Workers' Union (T&G) said the employees were unhappy at the way they have been treated by management and were determined to remain on strike.

Between April 2001 and 2002, the company made a pre-tax loss of £2.9m - against a £3m loss the previous year, on a turnover of £119m.

Its black cabs are currently exported to more than 25 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and South-East Asia.