A Blackpool cabbie has been banned from driving taxis after crashing into a stationary vehicle while drunk.

Blackpool Council stripped the driver of their licence after being informed of the incident, which happened on September 10, by the police.

After being hauled before licensing chiefs the driver, who has not been named, admitted they had an alcohol dependency problem.

The licence was revoked by licensing officers using their delegated powers.

Another driver has received a warning letter after being charged with a public order offence after a dispute with a passenger who refused to pay their fare.

The incident, on July 31, did not result in a formal conviction but the driver was brought before the council’s public protection sub-committee to explain what happened.

After deciding it was an ‘isolated’ incident and ‘out of character’, councillors agreed to issue a warning letter.

A warning letter was also issued to another driver who had been convicted of being in a public place with an offensive weapon in August.

Information given to the sub-committee by the police, said the driver  “had been involved in a confrontation in relation to abuse received by their

son.”

The driver told councillors “they had picked up a tool in reaction to their son being spat at by a gang of youths.”

Minutes from the meeting, which was held behind closed doors, add “they

assured members that they had no intention of using it as a weapon and had only picked it up in self-defence.”

A further driver had their licence suspended for two weeks and received a warning letter due to dangerous defects to their vehicle, including worn tyres.