A TAXI was in such "appalling" condition that it was seized by police during a crackdown in Rossendale.

Operation Spartacus saw Rossendale Borough Council’s Licensing and Enforcement Unit and Lancashire Police take part in the taxi enforcement exercise on Saturday, May 14, throughout the borough.

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During the evening, 20 licensed hackney carriages were stopped and inspected, of which four vehicles were issued with suspension notices for faults such as defective lights, defective windshield, unreported accident damage, bald tyres, damaged seat belts and interiors.

The council said that one vehicle was in such an "appalling" condition that Lancashire Police had "no alternative" but to seize itthe vehicle.

Council officers also issued nine defect notices for further minor faults, such as vehicle cleanliness, minor bodywork damage, absent ‘no smoking’ stickers, meter issues, cluttered boot space, wing mirror damage and shabby paintwork.

The action also saw five drivers found to be operating a hackney carriage while not displaying the hackney carriage driver's badge to be plainly visible.

Cllr Steve Hughes, chairman of Rossendale Council’s Licensing Committee, welcomed the work.

He said: “This operation proved a very successful exercise in identifying and suspending non-compliant drivers.

“There is no excuse for defective lights, filthy vehicles and illegal tyres.

“Taxi drivers are professional drivers and, as such, they should be carrying out basic checks before, during and at the end of each shift to ensure passenger safety.

“Failure to wear a driver's badge is extremely serious, it is imperative that the travelling public know that the driver of a hackney carriage has been checked by the council and that they are licensed.

"The badge seeks to reassure this and it is illegal to then fail to wear this.”

The last operation to run out of Rossendale was Maestro on April. Licensed vehicles were stopped and taken to one of the council’s authorised garages for a more detailed check by a qualified technician. Lancashire Police also took part.

On that occasion, 20 vehicles were checked resulting in six being immediately suspended and eight issued with defect notices for minor matters.

Prior to this, Spartacus ran in December resulting in 15 vehicles being inspected, from this two were immediately suspended and three were issued with defect notices.

Maestro also ran in December and five vehicles were inspected resulting in two immediate suspensions and one defect notice being issued.

Tracy Brzozowski, licensing and enforcement manager at Rossendale Council, said: “We will continue to conduct these inspections regularly.

“Licensed taxis are regularly tested and further taxi inspections are scheduled to take place to ensure all taxis are safe for customers to travel in.

“The lack of basic maintenance and defects found on some of the taxis was disappointing.

“A paying customer should always be able to expect a road worthy vehicle to travel in.”