TAXI drivers in Hyndburn will be subject to more scrutiny over the coming months after police found a variety of vehicle faults during a random spot check.

The joint operation between Hyndburn Borough Council, the neighbourhood policing team and the government’s Vehicle and Operator Standards agency, found seven out of 11 cars randomly checked had faults.

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These included defective seat belts, worn tyres, insecure batteries, brake fluid leaks, engine management warnings and inoperative electric windows.

Some taxis also failed to comply with council standards including having no taxi sign, driver’s badge and fire extinguishers or first aid kits.

One vehicle had to be towed away while others were repaired on site after the checks were carried out on August 31.

Police and council bosses have warned more of these operations will be carried out in the coming months.

Cllr Gareth Molineux, cabinet member for resources which covers licensing, said drivers and operators should make sure their vehicles are safe and they are not “risking lives”.

He said taxi drivers have to have additional MOTs and are put through various checks.

He said: “It was very disappointing to find 75 per cent of vehicles had some form of defect or were not compliant.

“As far as I am concerned public safety is paramount which is why we have strict licensing policies in place.”

He said some of the drivers were served with prohibition notices which means they are temporarily taken off the road.

“If they had kept their vehicle serviced, they would still be on the road,” he said.

“It is not a substantial amount of money to get it serviced regularly.

“I would not want to get into a vehicle knowing the brakes are faulty.”

“We do these spot checks regularly and will continue to do so especially in the run up to Christmas.”

A police spokesman said: “This operation was not only to ensure the safety of all persons using the taxis, including the driver, but also to ensure a level playing field for the large majority of taxi drivers who do ensure that their vehicles are of the required standard.

“More of these types of operations are likely.”