A BACUP cabbie has been found guilty of driving without a taxi licence after being shopped by a sharp-eyed member of the public.

Garry Robinson, 38, of South Street, Bacup, denied driving a private hire vehicle without a licence when he appeared before Rossendale Magistrates Court and lodged an appeal after he was convicted.

The court heard that a woman, who used the cab in January to take her home after calling it from the direct telephone in the Co-op, noticed that the car had no taxi plates on the front or back and the driver was not wearing a badge.

She contacted her local councillor Lorraine Hammond who told her to report it to the council.

Robinson said he had not been driving the vehicle that day because he had been out fishing with his friend.

James Back, of Regent Street, Bacup, who has owned Bacup Taxis for 18 years, and also owned Whitworth Taxis, told the court that the defendant did some valeting work for him.

He bought the car for Robinson to use once he was licensed and it had not been used for hire that day.

Magistrates fined Robinson £150 and ordered him to pay £50 court costs.

Speaking after the hearing the chairman of Rossendale Council's licensing committee, Coun Bob Huntbach, said: "The public need to have confidence that their taxi driver has been vetted by the council and licensed.

"This case shows that the council will enforce the law by prosecuting and that offenders can expect to be punished by the court."