NEW guidelines for testing taxis, introduced last November, have been hailed as a success by Burnley Borough Council.

Since their inception, the new arrangements for testing the road worthiness of private hire vehicles has reduced the number of cars failing.

The council's senior officer, responsible for testing vehicles, Steven Dickinson, has reported that the majority of vehicle owners were paying more attention to carrying out repairs between tests.

Vehicles were also found to be in a better condition when presented for the tests.

There has also been a reduction in the use of second hand parts and tyres being fitted to taxis.

A spokesman for Burnley Borough Council said: "The new rules have been a partial success in that there are more vehicles being presented in a better condition and owners are taking more care with way their cars."

In the five months from their implementation, the number of vehicles failing as a result of a serious defect has been reduced from 61 per cent in November 2001 to 40 percent in March 2002.