Katie Bennett, 22, suffered severe head injuries after falling out of the hackney carriage in Newchapel, north Staffordshire, in the early hours of Saturday.

She was taken to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire where she died on Monday morning, Staffordshire Police said.

A police spokesman said: "I can now confirm that the taxi driver involved has been arrested and is helping police with our inquiry.

"Sadly the young lady involved, Katie Louise Bennett, aged 22 years, from the Newchapel area, passed away this morning."

Miss Bennett and six friends had taken the taxi from Hanley town centre, in Stoke-on-Trent, to the high street in Newchapel, at 2am, police said.

Detectives had appealed for the driver of the large dark-coloured people carrier taxi to come forward.

The spokesman said: "On arrival, several of the passengers had left the vehicle. However, one passenger remained in the vehicle, which then moved off.

"That passenger then fell from the vehicle whilst in motion and suffered severe head injuries as a result."

Police are liaising with the coroner and are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information about the incident to contact them at Newcastle-under-Lyme station on 01785 234901 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.