Three new taxi ranks officially opened by the mayor in conjunction with a fundraising appeal in Harpenden yesterday.

The ranks, set up by the St Albans and Harpenden Taxi Association (SAHTA), are in High Street near the Barclay's bank, Station Road West and outside Chef Peking in Church Green.

The opening coincides with SAHTA's fundraising appeal, whereby all drivers will donate 20p for every journey they make over the next two weeks to Rennie Grove House - a local hospice caring for those with cancer.

General secretary for SAHTA, Mudassar Yasin, said: "This the fits time in over 15 years that we have been granted a new taxi rank.

"Up until now there was only one in Harpenden and we think the new three ranks will help us serve the community better."