A COUPLE have dubbed town cabbies their "Christmas angels" after they were given a ride to see their family.

Marie and Kevin Robinson, from Darlington, were given two train tickets to visit their son and grandchildren over the festive period.

They were the latest beneficiaries of an annual Christmas appeal by the town's taxi drivers. This year, they raised more than £150 to buy the tickets. The extra money will pay for taxi rides and other costs.

Mrs Robinson said: "We are absolutely overwhelmed. Me and my husband have been through a tough time with illness and we use taxi drivers all the time.

"To come up with an idea like this is out of this world. I have called them my Christmas angels because it is a wonderful Christmas present."

The couple, both 43, will spend Christmas with son Mark, his partner and their two children in Suffolk.

Mark moved to Felixstowe in May to start a new job with Morrisons. It would have been the first year the family had been apart.

The couple were unable to afford the train fare after Mr Robinson had to give up work after suffering a stroke earlier this year.

"It is the best Christmas present we have ever had," Mrs Robinson said.

It is the third year the taxi drivers, from different companies, have organised the collection.

Michelle Jenkinson wanted to give the money to the couple because she regularly drives Mrs Robinson around Darlington.

She said: "We believe that parents should be with their children at Christmas and grandparents with their grandchildren.

"It is what Christmas is all about. It is a goodwill gesture from the taxi drivers."