A taxi firm is celebrating a council decision which will allow it to fund security measures for its fleet of cars.

Bradford Council's regulatory and appeals committee has amended its regulations to allow the district's taxis to display advertising logos and slogans.

Taxi and private hire firms which do this must use the money they make from the advertising to pay for security cameras.

Stuart Hastings, of Metro Keighley, said the decision marked the end of a difficult three-year struggle to persuade the council to alter its stance.

The campaign gained impetus following the murder of Keighley taxi driver Mahmood Ahmed, in April 2006.

Mr Hastings said his firm now planned to fit security cameras in all 86 of its vehicles. The CCTV system - which includes microphones to pick up any verbal abuse - has already been trialled by Metro Keighley and proved popular with drivers and customers.

Mr Hastings said: "The technology is very exciting and it's going to be good for safety and good for Keighley.

"We've already sold some advertising and hope to have things fully running by the end of the first half of this year."

He said security cameras, along with other measures, such as panic buttons and protective screens for drivers, could save lives by deterring would-be criminals.

Bradford Council leader Councillor Kris Hopkins said altering the council's rules was the right thing to do'. He said: "What this is about is making sure that our citizens who travel in taxis and private hire cabs across the district are safe.

"You go to London and other big cities and see adverts on taxis there, so this should be the way forward."

Insp Mark Allsop said in West Yorkshire in 2007, police recorded a total of 2,947 offences against taxi drivers, most of which were violent crimes.

He said: "Evidence from other areas has shown CCTV in taxis does help to reduce crime.

"Overall we're looking at improving the working environment for taxi drivers as well as making passengers safer."

Confirming the changed regulations, David Webster, head of Bradford Council's business services, said: "Advertising on taxis is now allowed owing to a change in conditions which were approved by the council just before Christmas.

"The advertising has to adhere to the law and to the Advertising Standards Authority guidelines and it also has to be approved by the council."