A campaigning cabbie hoping to go green with an eco-friendly car is being stopped by council red tape – because his car is three inches too short.

Handforth taxi driver Hazim Al-Mallak, 38, wants to sell his gas-guzzling vehicle for a hybrid car with lower CO2 emissions to help the environment.

But Cheshire East Council (CEC) licensing regulations state a taxi must be at least 177 inches long, just three inches more than a Toyota Prius hybrid car.

Hazim, of Ullswater Road, Handforth, said: "The Government keeps telling us to go green and keeps going on about our carbon footprint. I’m trying to do that but why is our council saying otherwise? It’s like they don’t want to be green.  I’m determined to lead the way because I think if we lead the way then most taxi drivers will follow."

The father of one, who keeps a compost heap and recycles in bid to go green, pleaded with bosses at a licensing meeting at Macclesfield Town Hall on Monday to help sort out the rules. Hazim also ran an executive car service picking up Wilmslow’s stars including premier league footballers – and claims high-end clients want to see green cars as well.

He added: "We need to get clarification from the council to know where we stand. I’m just trying to do my bit for the environment, it may not achieve much but at least you will be seen to be doing something. But I can’t buy one until I know it will be allowed."

Hazim is licensed by CEC as a Hackney Carriage driver to pick up passengers on the street. Currently, three separate policies exist for the former boroughs of Congleton, Crewe and Nantwich, and Macclesfield.

In the other two former boroughs there are no length restrictions but a review has been promised by CEC for next month for Hackney Carriage licences, which apply to cars which can be flagged down by the public.

Private hire drivers – pre-booked taxis – have a single code for all drivers across Cheshire East and length regulations don’t apply.

John Knight, spokesman for Cheshire East Green Party and parliamentary candidate for Macclesfield, said CEC should be ‘encouraging’ hybrid car use.

"Where cars need to be used surely it makes sense to use the least environmentally damaging option," he added.

"At the moment that seems to be the hybrid cars and it certainly should be encouraged by the council."

A spokeswoman for CEC said: "Cheshire East Council is intending to conduct a full review of Hackney Carriage terms and conditions. The review will take full account of: current service standards, the variety of fares charged to the public, and the existing licence terms and conditions."