Last year, the Conservative MP for Northampton South, Brian Binley, called on the Government to push for the installation of CCTV cameras and protective shields in taxis and private hire cars.

And this week he called again on the Government to provide protection for vulnerable drivers.

During a House of Commons debate, he said: "Taxi drivers work on the front line of transportation and in the late hours, not least because no other transportation is available then. Their customers are unknown to them and they often pick them up in the very dimmest of light."

Discussing the fact that nationally, 51 taxi drivers have been murdered over the last 15 years, he added: "Taxi drivers carry out a vital function in some of the most difficult circumstances that we might imagine, and they pay a price.

"Taxi drivers are under attack."

The MP also claimed there was increasing evidence to suggest a link between late-night binge drinking and attacks on drivers.

His comments were welcomed by the Government's transport minister, Sadiq Khan, who insisted the Government had made moves to improve driver safety in the past year, including publishing a leaflet which tells drivers how they can improve their safety.

He said: "It is truly appalling that drivers who are, after all, providing a service for the public should be fearful about the prospect of getting through the working day unscathed, or, worse still, should have to endure abuse or violence."

But he warned there was no easy cure to the situation, adding: "There is no magic silver bullet that will solve these problems.

"It is a terrible shame that we live in a society in which people still think that they can abuse taxi drivers verbally or physically and get away without sanction from the criminal justice system."

His sentiments were echoed by Martin Kean, who is a member of the Northampton branch of the Private Hire Association.

He said: "There haven't been a great deal of attacks in Northampton just lately, although obviously any attack is a problem.

"So if the Government can come up with ways to reduce attacks, that can only be applauded. But you'll never get rid of them completely.