A group of London taxi drivers has launched an iPhone app that aims to make it easier and safer for people in London to hail a black cab.

The LDNtaxiApp is free to download for a limited time. It uses GPS technology to show you all the available black cabs close by. Fill in where you’re going, press ‘Hail’ and your location will be sent to the nearby drivers. You’ll receive a picture and registration number of the taxi that’s on its way, along with a picture and name of the driver, and you can follow the taxi’s progress on the phone.

Any problems, you can send the driver a direct message, and the app will let you know when the car has arrived. The confirmation shown on the iPhone’s screen can be shown to the cabbie to identify you as the passenger.

Licensed black cab driver Warren Cresdee, one of the brains behind the app, says: “We?ve combined stylish design and the latest technology to create an app that is incredibly easy to use, helping customers to find a cab, and us cabbies to find custom. All drivers go through a rigorous screening process, meaning that it’s a fun and safe way to travel, as well as being more affordable than using a private hire taxi company. It’s a simple idea, well executed.”