ANGRY Redditch taxi drivers fear a town centre rank has been closed to allow for road works in time for the Queen’s visit in July.

Mr Fred White, one of the drivers, said the move was another step toward driving taxi men out of business.

He warned that the closure of the severn car rank in Alcester Street would mean a lack of business for cabbies.

“All this leaves us with is the six car rank in Church Green East which is away from the shopping centre and the wrong side of the road,” he said.

A spokesman for Hereford and Worcester County Council said the work would take a week to complete and cost £2,500.

He also said that it was scheduled work to repair damage to the road following the building of the new town hall.