MORE than one in three taxi drivers who took a basic communications test have been sent back to school for extra lessons.

The test in maths, local geography and English was introduced last month in an attempt to improve services to people in Blackburn and Darwen. Since the beginning of October 17 drivers have taken the tests, 11 have passed and six referred to Blackburn College for further education.

When the tests were introduced, a Blackburn councillor branded them a "joke" for being too easy, but licensing officers said they were designed to let cabbies spot potentially dangerous situations and avoid confrontations.

Today Coun David Pearson said the failure rate was at an unacceptable level and called for the drivers who failed the test to be banned. The questions asked included:

The fare is £3.80, and the passenger pays with a £10 note. How much change do you give?

What is the main road called leading from Blackburn to Darwen?

A photograph was shown and the candidates had to identify things such as the colour of car, number of people in the picture and what the weather was like.

Coun Pearson added: "It is unacceptable and a disgrace. I think there is a definite danger to the public if we have drivers on the road who cannot pass a test like this. I would like to see the test made harder."

Coun Jim Blackburn, chairman of licensing, said: "The tests were introduced because it had been identified that some drivers were experiencing difficulty in communicating in English.