A BLITZ on taxi safety in Burnley saw eight cabs pulled up for a variety of defects.

Taxi safety checks discovered a number of faults including defective headlights, brakelights, tyres, exhausts and infringements of licensing conditions including having no first aid kit or fire extinguishers.

Drivers were given prohibition notices ordering them to carry out safety improvements, but six of these were lifted on the night once inspectors were satisfied the defects had been rectified.

A joint operation by Burnley Council's licensing department, Housing Benefit Investigation Unit, police, the Vehicle Inspectorate and Lancashire County Council engineering services, the blitz on Friday night was designed to check the road worthiness of licensed private hire and hackney carriage vehicles.

Ten cars licensed by the borough council were escorted to Princess Way testing station by the police while three vehicles licensed by neighbouring Pendle Council were also inspected. Details of these checks have now been passed on to Pendle Council.

Councillor John Cavanagh, chair of licensing at Burnley Council, said: "It is evident from the type of defects found during this operation that both private hire and hackney carriage drivers are not checking their vehicles before the start of each shift.

"In the interests of public safety it is essential that visual checks are carried out as a matter of course." Insp Andy Moore of Burnley police said: "I'm sure the vast majority of drivers and operators take their responsibilities very seriously.

"However, as this exercise has shown, there are some who have not been complying with the law and we clearly have to take appropiate action."

All drivers pulled over were also asked to present their insurance details to police in the next seven days and two drivers were cautioned for not wearing their private hire driver's identification bag.