Taxi drivers are refusing to pick up both men and women they do not recognise in some of the crime-ridden areas of the Island following attacks on cabbies.

They told The Royal Gazette this week that even women waiting alone in some areas may be left standing by drivers because there have been a number of incidents where females have been used as "camouflage''.

Eddie Darrell, who runs Darrell & Sons Taxis, said: "You can see a woman and think that she is standing in the street alone trying to catch a cab, but as soon as you stop, a guy jumps out of the trees and tries to get in, too.

"The women are sometimes just the camouflage for men.

"Following all the attacks on drivers, a number of them now refuse to stop and pick up anyone, including women, in certain neighbourhoods. In the likes of Front Street there is no problem.

"If you are in a bad neighbourhood, then it is very difficult to hail a cab, and I would advise everyone, but especially women, to make sure they call for a cab from their home, or where ever they are, rather than risk being left standing in the street.'' The comments came after two women complained to The Royal Gazette that they had been either ignored or treated badly by drivers.

One woman, who did not wish to be named, said a cab driver refused to take her along the private lane to her home at 2 a.m. last week, instead insisting that he drop her off on nearby South Shore in Southampton.

She said the cabbie had told her he did not want to take his vehicle down the winding drive, claiming it was too narrow, so left her to walk the remainder of the journey home.

The woman said: "It was in the early hours, I was alone and it was very dark and I couldn't believe he insisted that I get out.

"I explained to him that taxis and cars could very easily get down the lane and turn around at the bottom, but he refused.

"I would have thought he would have known better than that because we had just been talking about all of the latest sex attacks on women in the Southampton area.

"I was quite worried and it is not something I would like to happen again.'' And another woman, who also did not wish to be named, said she only travelled by bus now because she had been left standing so often by taxis.

The woman, who lives in Warwick, said: "Many times I have stood on main roads trying to hail cabs, but every time they just sail past me.

"I think it is because I am black and they just do not want my custom. And, this has happened on Front Street, too. It certainly is not limited to those areas they wish to label `bad'.

The complaints follow a number of sexual and violent attacks on women across the Island and some have occurred as women have been walking home alone.

The Women's Resource Centre has urged women to plan ahead and book cabs in advance.

Cab driver Robert Minors, who runs his own firm, agreed that sometimes women were left standing.

He said: "Some drivers will not pick up in bad areas at all. No matter whether it's a man or a woman, unless they know the person.

"It is certainly not a colour thing -- I do not think drivers are discriminating against black people. They are just thinking about their own safety, especially in the early hours.

"I have had it happen to me where you think you are picking up a woman, and all of a sudden men arrive from nowhere and try to get in. We have to be careful.'' And he also said the best way to ensure people caught a cab was by ordering one from an address and giving their name.

But cab driver Kimmie Mello said often taxis were on their way to pick up other customers when they were hailed in the street.

He also suggested people called to order a car in advance, but also urged drivers to ensure their taxi sign lights were out when they were not available.