TWO Lancashire police officers are at the centre of an internal probe after a taxi driver was cleared of falsely imprisoning them.

Detective Constable Tim McDermott, the football intelligence officer covering Blackburn Rovers, and his partner Helen Dean, also a Lancashire officer, are being investigated by the force's professional standards department.

Taxi driver Cleveland Williams, 65, of Trafford, drove the off-duty couple, of Holcombe Brook, near Ramsbottom, to Bury police station last August after they refused to pay £34 for being taken home from Manchester.

Bolton Crown Court, sitting in Bury, heard that the meter showed £25.20, with William's demanding more because of a time-and-a-half rate.

DC McDermott, the court heard, contacted the police on his mobile phone and went to find an officer when he was able to leave the vehicle.

Mr Williams claimed he had reasonable cause to detain the couple in his cab on grounds of dishonesty.

No further evidence was offered by the prosecution on the second day of the trial and a not guilty verdict was recorded against Mr Williams.

Mr Williams is believed to be considering taking legal action against Greater Manchester and Lancashire police after claiming he was racially abused by PC Dean - an allegation she strenuously denied in court.

A Lancashire police spokesman said: "After due consideration of the circumstances, we will make a decision as to whether any further action is necessary."