Britons caught up in the French cabbie strikes today told of their terror after facing gangs of 'taxi mafia' as they desperately tried to flee the country. Around 3,000 taxi drivers have taken part in violent demonstrations across France against rival firm Uber, burning tyres on main roads and blocking access to airports and other transport hubs. Shocking footage also emerged today showing protesters dropping rocks onto cars as they travelled under bridges in Paris. One woman told MailOnline how she was forced to sleep in the airport with a mob of angry picketers after missing her flight. Alexandra Lever had been a guest at the MailOnline yacht party in Cannes the night before when her private hire car failed to turn up to take her to Nice airport.British woman forced to sleep in Nice airport with mob of angry picketersAlexandra Lever missed flight after journey was ambushed by protestersTold MailOnline: 'They're blocking the road with burning tyres. It's scary'British private hire driver in Paris told how he was punched by a rioter
'I heard they set an _ car on fire earlier and they have been tipping them over with people inside. On at least two occasions in Strasbourg in eastern _ last week, taxi drivers posed as customers in order to lure Uber drivers to isolated spots where they were assaulted by cabbies and their vehicles damaged.