A NEW locally-run taxi app that can be used around the country will be launched in Oxford in September to combat the threat of Uber.

The Riide app – operated in Oxford by 001 Taxis – has been set up by private hire firms to fight off national apps.

001 Taxis will have the rights to Oxfordshire and have encouraged firms in Witney, Bicester, Banbury and other towns in the county to get on board.

The firm's director Mark Green was one of the original four directors of the app and the network has now spread to thirteen operators and a fleet of 9,000 cars.

Mr Green said: "It's non-profitable but we hope it will fend off competition from national apps that seem to be popping up.

"In each city it will be run by local firms with licensed drivers who know the area.

"It's important to us that our customers in Oxford don't lose that."

The app's general manager Lee Clayton said the group were fearful of "corporate" vultures and decided to build their own nationwide app.

The one app would work in cities such as Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Milton Keynes, Oxford, London, Dublin and Belfast.

Each city has its own local firm covering the area – with 001 Taxis servicing Oxford.

Once passengers enter a new city the app will continue to work and vehicles from that city's relevant private hire firm will then respond to bookings.

Last week Uber's application to come to Oxford was declared void leaving doubts over whether the controversial company would end up operating in the city.

Mr Green welcomed the delay but said the Riide app was well-equipped against all-comers.

He said: "It's good news for us but there's nothing their app does that the Riide app won't be able to.

"There's a sharing payment scheme, you get rewards on your account and the biggest thing is it will use licensed companies and existing licensed drivers who know the area.

"We also don't do surging payments, where journeys at a particular time cost more."

The firm invited private hire firms from towns across the county to get in touch.

Those companies could buy into the scheme and respond to any bookings in a certain area of the county, such as Abingdon or Banbury.

The Riide app – expected to go live in September – also enables passengers to select the exact vehicle they would like to transport them around.