A PIONEERING scheme to improve the safety of revellers has been hailed a "blinding" success.

A marshalled taxi rank has operated in Market Square, Bromley, on Friday and Saturday nights for the past three months.

It is now being extended to cover the Christmas period and to include Thursday nights.

The partnership between Bromley Council, taxi drivers and Transport for London (TfL) is like no other in the capital.

Two marshals organise queues and prevent passengers from using illegal minicabs.

And unlike other minicab ranks it does not link up unknown passengers travelling in the same direction.

The rank is visited regularly by police and covered by CCTV cameras. Marshals have a two-way radio link with the town's CCTV control room.

Tony Ellis, of the London Taxi Drivers' Association, heads the scheme.

He says drivers make around 70 journeys from the Bromley rank each week, carrying 140 passengers.

Mr Ellis said: "It has been a blinding success and it's a lot safer because people are going home rather than hanging around taxi cab ranks."

Bromley Council's executive councillor for the environment George Taylor said: "It has had a great impact on public safety.

"Even those who aren't using the rank feel safer because there is a presence."

There are also plans to extend the scheme to the rank at Beckenham Junction station in the New Year.

Police say people spilling out of pubs and clubs and waiting around there increases the likelihood of trouble.

In July two men were jailed for rape after posing as taxi drivers and luring a woman into their car outside the station.

Cllr Taylor added: "I am very keen to see this implemented in other parts of the borough.

"But we are dependent on TfL for funding and we have to take our chance with other boroughs who have seen the success of the scheme in Bromley."

The marshalled rank scheme costs £1,500 per month.