A SERIES of roadshows is being held to encourage more Black and Asian people to become London cabbies.

The roadshows, which are being hosted by Transport for London's Public Carriage Office, are part of a long-term campaign to ensure that the cab trade is more representative of London's diverse communities.

According to Mayor Ken Livingstone only one in 20 taxi drivers is either black, Asian or from an ethnic minority.

Only one per cent of London's 65,000 taxi drivers are Asian and 2.4 per cent are Black.

However, about one in three people in London have an athnic minority background.

Mr Livingstone said: "More people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds are applying to become black cab drivers, but at the current rate it will be 30 years before the trade is representative of London's communities.

"Taxi drivers are great ambassadors for London and I want the trade to reflect the diversity of the capital.

"This campaign is designed to encourage people from non-traditional backgrounds to consider becoming a cab driver by informing people about the benefits of the trade and how to become qualified."

Ed Thompson, Taxi and Private Hire Director at the Public Carriage Office, said: "London's taxi drivers are top class and provide a vital service to travellers throughout the capital.

"But we would like to see the diversity of the city much better reflected.

"The industry is open to all and by holding this series of roadshows, we want to invite the local communities to come along and find out a bit more about the industry which could be the first step to a promising career."

London taxi driver Sukhvinver Singh said: "I have been a taxi driver for one and a half years. It has given me great opportunities, I am self- employed and am able to decide when and what hours I work."