Safety standards should be imposed on the types of vehicle used as Brighton taxis, according to a new survey.

While other cities already impose strict conditions on the vehicles that can be used as a "Hackney carriage", able to be flagged down by pedestrians rather than being booked, Brighton and Hove cabs do not have such guidelines.

However, 96 per cent of respondents to a survey in the city said there should be set standards governing the safety and quality of vehicles used.

The research was commissioned by Taxiwise, a national campaign pushing to eradicate unlicensed and bogus cab drivers.

Matthew Cheyne, national spokesman, said: "We believe there needs to be a distinction between the type of vehicle that can be flagged down in the street and that which has to be booked in advance.

"People in Brighton agree that there should be set standards.

"In this way, unsuspecting passengers will not be in danger of being duped into getting into any bogus or unlicensed taxis."