AN OXFORD taxi driver who held a protest through the city after he claimed he was sacked for being a trade union member has lost the first part of a legal fight.

Mohammed Fadlalla, who worked for 001 Taxis until January, was found by a judge not to have been an employee of the company. The Oxford taxi company argued successfully that he was self-employed because of the nature of his taxi licence.

Mr Fadlalla's GMB union is considering whether to appeal the judgement, given last Thursday. It is understood there will be further hearings over Mr Fadlalla's departure.