TAXI drivers who operate unsafe vehicles in Pendle should be forced to explain themselves before the borough's licensing chiefs.

That's the view of Mohammed Akram, secretary of Pendle Taxi Association, in the wake of a damning series of spot-checks on cabs last October.

More than one in four vehicles were hauled off the road, following a combined operation by police, council licensing officials, and the Vehicle and Operation Service Agency.

The crackdown took place at Macadams Garage, in Colne, and saw 11 out of 37 cars inspected deemed unroadworthy due to mechanical faults.

Licensing committee chairman Coun Allan Buck said: "The last tests in October related to faults which were so serious that taxis had to be taken off the road.

"These are not minor faults. They were basically not fit for the roads. We have a duty to protect the people of Pendle."

Taxi trade representatives vowed to work with licensing officers to root out rogue drivers working in the borough.

Mr Akram said: "These operators who deliberately do not care about the state of their vehicles should be brought before the licensing committee so they will know there is something they have to face."

Licensing officers want to increase spot-checks to three per year.