About 8,500 of London's black cabs are being recalled for safety checks, it was announced yesterday.

The news coincided with a profits warning from Manganese Bronze, maker of the taxi, which left shares in the company down nearly 17 per cent.

Taxi drivers will seek compensation for loss of earnings while checks or repairs are made under the recall, which affects TX-1 versions built between October 1997 and June 2000, the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association said last night.

The recall, being undertaken between now and January 2, involves checks into possible loose steering box mounting bolts.

Drivers, who received recall notices several days ago, have been warned to look out for excessive play in steering wheels.

Most of the affected vehicles, which cost drivers up to Pounds 30,000 depending on specification, are understood to be operating in London. Some 23,000 are registered with the Public Carriage Office, the trade's regulator.

Coventry-based London Taxis International, part of Manganese Bronze, makes about 3,500 black cabs a year.

The timing of the recall has angered taxi drivers, entering what should be a lucrative time of year.

Jamie Borwick, Manganese Bronze chief executive, blamed yesterday's profit warning on falling demand for new taxis, not the recall.

"The coincidence is a pity," said Mr Borwick, who added that the recall and sales drop were not interlinked. Instead, he attributed the fall to high fuel prices, rising insurance costs and recent rail disruption.

Taxi sales fell from 818 to 584 between August and October. The company has cut production at Coventry from 20 taxis a day to 17. Reduced output would not affect jobs, it said.