CABS in Rossendale have come up trumps in a survey of vehicles passing their MOT the first time.

Taxis in Rossendale achieved an overall pass rate of 85 per cent with the national average being just 65 per cent.

This comes after police carried out spot checks on local taxis at the weekend and found that the standard of safety has risen from that of two years ago.

Officers from Pennine Division's Road Policing Unit stopped taxis throughout the valley and any suspected of not being road roadworthy were taken to a local garage for examination.

PC Rod Graham of the Road Policing Unit said: "It is 12 months since we last carried out the checks and in general it was pleasing to see that the majority of operators are keeping their vehicles in reasonable condition."