INSPECTORS discovered a string of serious faults with buses, including loose wheel nuts and cracked brake discs, on the first day of a new blitz on dangerous vehicles.

Out of 14 buses inspected in Blackburn, 13 were found to have some sort of fault with three taken off the road immediately.

Police today said the faults could have caused serious accidents.

Operation Travelsafe has been introduced by Blackburn with Darwen Council after a report which called for improvements in its public transport.

The boss of Blackburn's biggest bus operator has given the scheme his full backing and said that passenger safety should always come first.

The blitz on all operators is being carried out in partnership with the vehicle inspectorate, which ensures the safety of all buses in the country, the police and the benefit agency.

The operation will also involve the benefit agency to check that drivers have all the necessary documentation and are operating within the law.

The first day-long blitz took place on the Boulevard. Vehicles were randomly selected for examination and directed to a check site by a police officer.

Three were given immediate prohibition notices and were taken off the road immediately for defects such as loose wheel nuts, cracked brake discs and fuel leaks.

Four were issued with a delayed prohibition notice meaning they were required to have an MOT test within a given time, but were not taken off the road. The remaining six were given advisory notices.

In the inspection, Blackburn Transport, the town's largest bus operator with a fleet of 118, had one bus taken off the road immediately because of a faulty wheel pan and another vehicle was given a delayed prohibition notice.

Managing director Michael Morton said: "I think it is a good idea. The vehicle inspectorate do a very good job and we welcome their input any time at our depot or on the road."

Northern Blue Buses, based in Burnley, had three buses checked on the day and all were allowed to carry on. One was given a delayed prohibition notice because of an oil leak and two were given lesser advisory notices.

Suzanne Bailey, managing director of Catchmebus.com, said: "It is a good thing that the vehicle inspectorate is carrying out these checks."

Insp Stuart Isherwood, of the road policing unit, said: "It was very disappointing to find that one or two of the defects found were extremely worrying and could potentially have caused serious accidents."

Councillor Andy Kay, executive member for regeneration, said: "Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council will not tolerate passengers being transported in vehicles that are not roadworthy."