STRIKE action by taxi drivers in Burnley moved a step closer after councillors refused to be "held to ransom" over demands to relax vehicle testing.

Private hire drivers had written to council bosses asking for MOT policy to be urgently reviewed.

In a letter to the council, Duncan Allen, secretary of Burnley Private Hire Association, argued that the policy was unfair. Cars under three years old are tested twice a year and vehicles between three and seven years old three times a year. All cars have to be under seven years old.

The Private Hire Association said quality of vehicles was now much better than in the past and the number of MOTs should be reduced by one for each vehicle group.

Figures show that 35 per cent of cars failed MOTs in September 2003 with serious defects, although this had improved from a 64 per cent in November 2000.

Coun Linda Gauton said: "We should not be held to ransom over this. MOTs three times a year make cars safer. We are here for the public and their safety should be our first consideration."

Council leader Stuart Caddy said: "If the Private Hire Association decide to take strike action, that is up to them. We should not change the current policy."

Mr Allen said: "If council members continually refuse to discuss this issue in a proper constructive manner, we would be left with no alternative other than a ballot of our members with a recommendation to withdraw our service."