A school for wannabe cabbies has opened its doors to teach drivers everything they need to know about the trade.

The newly opened Taxi Academy is the first of its kind in the region and will meet the growing demand for Manchester's bustling throng of potential drivers who are in need of professional tuition to pass Manchester City Council's tough test to become a hackney or private hire driver.

The idea was created by Kashef Ahmed, one of the founders of the company, after studying to become a private hire taxi driver.

He found the test to be difficult with pass rates as low as 10 - 20 percent.

Identifying a gap in the market, he teamed up with fellow driver James Hill and created an academy in the city centre for drivers taking the council's test in which they have to learn 480 locations by heart.

Said Kashef: "Taxi driving is a perfect job for someone requiring flexible hours, and the ability to put in as much (or as little!) overtime as they need.

"The school has a pragmatic approach to teaching, and focuses on the issues needed to get a driver driving - the knowledge needed to pass the test, and how to get through the paperwork and red tape required.

"Our first class is now full so we are running extra classes which are vibrant and noisy, until the tutor sets a mock exam!"

Classes currently run Monday and Wednesday evenings at the One Central Park on Northampton Road.

For more information contact the Taxi Academy on 0800 862 0016 or visit www.taxi-academy.co.uk .