A taxi driver had his licence revoked by a council after the vehicle he was driving was found to be carrying what was suspected to be a quantity of drugs.

The driver claimed he had purchased the vehicle and given it back to another driver the following day due to some mechanical faults and that he did not know what the vehicle was being used for.

At the time of the vehicle being stopped, he was the licensed proprietor of it having signed a declaration that he owned the vehicle, and produced a bogus new keeper supplement.

On August 28, he lost his appeal against the revocation of his hackney carriage and private hire driver's licence at Blackburn Magistrates' Court.

The magistrates dismissed the appeal and upheld the decision of the council to revoke the licences.

The name of the driver involved in the case was not included in court documents.

A Hyndburn Council spokesperson said: “The priority of the taxi licensing department is to protect the public. 

"The use of licensed vehicles to transport illegal substances or for any other illegal purposes will not be tolerated and the council will use all the powers it has to ensure that those responsible are brought to task."