Taxi drivers say plans to change drivers' tests are unfair and could cost passengers more money.

Hackney Carriages, Brighton and Hove City Council's taxi licensing service, is running a trial scheme allowing prospective drivers to do their test at work.

Instead of being orally tested on their knowledge of Brighton and Hove's road network at Hackney Carriages' offices, employees take a written test at their own company offices.

The completed exams are then handed in to the licensing service.

Although the scheme is currently on trial with Streamline taxis, based in Hove, it could spread to all operators.

Michael Hildreth, branch secretary for the Transport and General Workers' Union, said: "They have told us if they think it's successful they will introduce it.

"We are strongly against it because the process is going to lose its transparency and independence.

"Taxi companies will want to get drivers through as quickly as possible.

"If the taxi driver doesn't know where he is going it will cost the passenger more money."

A council spokesman said: "The council's aim is to ensure drivers are equipped to provide people with the best possible service and we need a test which will do that.

"We would ideally want to agree on the best system for testing with drivers. We'll continue to discuss the best way forward with them as we certainly value their experience."