TWO friends claim a taxi driver tried to dump them on the hard shoulder of a motorway, on a cold and dark winter’s night.

Christina Lloyd and Michelle Lally jumped in a cab at the Forum in Hatfield after agreeing a price of �40 to take them to Old Stevenage in the early hours.

But the pair allege the trip home soon turned into the journey from hell after demands for more cash from the driver left them scared and vulnerable.

Miss Lloyd, 23, who works as a project manager for a medical company, told the WHT: “We were just approaching junction seven of the A1(M) and he slowed down, he was going to stop and drop us off on the hard shoulder.

“I said ‘you can’t be serious’, he was demanding more money, he said the �40 had run out.”

They managed to persuade the driver to carry on, but as they exited the motorway he allegedly demanded they got out at a lay-by near an industrial park off Broadhall Way, over two miles from home.

Wearing high heels but no coats the pair were forced to walk.

Miss Lloyd’s father Gareth, from Woolmer Green is demanding action.

He said: “The driver compromised the safety of my daughter and her friend. He just drove off.”

Officers from Welwyn Hatfield Council which issues Hackney Carriage licences, allowing drivers to carry passengers, said they were treating the incident seriously but had not suspended the driver during their investigation.

A spokeswoman said: “Safety of the public is of utmost importance to the council, when using licensed Hackney Carriage vehicles.

“The council has interviewed both women involved and the driver will be interviewed under caution on Tuesday.”

A decision over whether to revoke the man’s licence will then be made by councillors.

The police were also aware on the incident.