NEW measures have come into effect today to help the public identify taxis more easily.

Rossendale Council has brought in the changes for both private hire vehicles and hackney carriages.

All new licensed vehicles and licence renewals of vehicles will be issued with larger, more visible taxi identification plates for the front and rear of taxis.

New stickers have also been given out with identifying numbers for the front doors of both sides of a vehicle.

Drivers have been issued with new, more durable driver identity badges that must be worn round their necks at all times when on duty.

Coun Peter Steen, chairman of the licensing committee. said: "The new measures are designed to make it much easier for passengers to identify when a vehicle is a taxi.

"The measures should also give reassurance to the public that they are getting into a taxi and in with a driver who has been licensed by the council.