POLICE and council officials carried out spot checks on taxis in Clitheroe -- and all were deemed safe.

Vehicles were checked for road-worthiness as well as compliance with licensing conditions, including carrying fire extinguishers and first aid kits, displaying tariffs and badges.

The police were also checking for drink drivers and the DSS were on the look-out for benefit fraudsters.

The swoop checked a total of 12 cars and found that all were up to scratch -- a similar check two months ago stopped over 25 cars and took six off the road.

Graham Roe, taxi enforcement officer, said: "We took a general look at the taxis in the Ribble Valley area and after we checked the first few everybody seemed to disappear.

"Word gets out, they radio ahead and warn everyone, but it is good to see that they are all doing it properly, at least now they know they're being watched.

"At the end of the day all we're trying to do is make sure that taxis are safe for the public."