A Keighley restaurant boss has accused a neighbouring taxi firm of ruining his business.

Al Mirzaali, of Alfe’s in Church Street, said his customers faced a parking nightmare due to Metro, based just a few doors away.

“There is a car park behind the restaurant but people are always getting blocked in because the taxi drivers just leave their vehicles across the access,” said Mr Mirzaali, owner of the Ranch company, incorporating Alfe’s.

“When you ask them to move, they are begrudging about it and take their time – they simply don’t give a damn.

“There can be as many as ten to 15 taxis parked in the road.”

Mr Mirzaali added: “It is making things extremely difficult for us and is affecting the business. We are suffering.

“Lorries delivering to the premises are also experiencing difficulties. I have tried talking to Metro about it but they have no understanding.”

He said the problem had been going on for some time, but had worsened recently.

“A while ago I did raise the matter with the hackney carriage people at Bradford Council and the situation improved temporarily, but within a couple of weeks, things were back to the way they were,” he added.

Metro owner Stuart Hastings acknowledged there was an issue with parking in the street, but that it wasn’t of his firm’s making.

He said problems only arose after plans for a taxi business across the road were approved.

“Until then, everything was fine,” he said. “Rather than complaining about us, he should be asking questions of those who allowed another firm to open.

“We’ve been here 37 years – long before Alfe’s.

“It is ‘taxi lane’ here at night – I accept that but a lot of people using the restaurant are going on foot, after leaving the pub, and are getting one of our taxis home.

“We are a big employer – 116 people work here – and we do our best to be ‘neighbour friendly’. We are reasonable people and I will remind our drivers to be considerate.”