Uber driver Ben Wilshire said he was one of three Uber drivers in Orange on Saturday night.

He said at times the demand was so strong from people wanting to be driven around town they could not keep up and delays occurred.

“It was really, really busy [Saturday] night. I think I did about 15 jobs,” he said.

“There were only three drivers on.”

Mr Wilshire estimated the Uber drivers took about 45 jobs with peak demand about 11pm.

“I enjoyed it. There was not a lot of money to be made from it. I enjoy driving people about,” he said.

People seeking to use Uber late on Friday night also reported delays in getting a driver.

But, at the same time there was a long queue at the Robertson Park rank for the city’s fleet of taxis.

Taxi Cabs of Orange Co-operative chairman Darryl Curran said it was probably the busiest weekend of the year for taxis, apart from New Year’s Eve.

“This weekend we could have done with an extra 20 cars if we had them,” he said.

Mr Curran said next weekend would also be busy but he expected more people would be staying at home as Christmas approached, rather than going out as so many did last weekend.

“That weekend in particular is the busiest of the year, the one just gone,” he said.

Mr Curran said cab drivers were busy and had not noticed any loss of business with the competition from Uber.

“No, not at all. Definitely no drop whatsoever,” he said.

Mr Curran said he believed Uber drivers would struggle for work in Orange once the peak period passed.

“After next weekend there isn’t enough work for both of us and they will really struggle,” he said.

Uber was contacted for comment.

Last week its Head of Cities Natalie Malligan forecast there may be pick up delays as Uber was starting “relatively small” in Orange.