A FURIOUS taxi driver has vowed to keep driving despite being suspended by Bournemouth council.

Frank Shaw is one of 101 cabbies due to receive letters today telling them they cannot work until they take a college course, said to improve public safety.

But the 67-year-old claims the course is "ridiculous" and "irrelevant" and intends to appeal to the courts.

"I have been doing this job for 25 years and I don't need a piece of paper to tell me I'm capable of doing it," he told the Daily Echo.

"Most of it is ridiculous and has nothing to do with what drivers do from day to day. I'm going to fight this to the end."

Bournemouth council's Licensing Board has insisted all the town's 1,056 taxi drivers take the BTEC course, which covers a variety of subjects including licensing regulations, disability awareness, route planning and customer service.

But 101 have refused, saying instructions such as how to lift a box, how to greet passengers and advice on personal appearance are "patronising".

It is three years since cabbies were warned about the new rules and all were given a deadline of February 2008 to complete the course, which is free of charge.

At a meeting on Wednesday members of the Special Licensing Board voted to implement immediate suspension for the 101 who have failed to complete the course.

Chairman Stephen Chappell said: "This qualification is vital to ensure our drivers are of a high standard and residents and visitors receive the best possible service."