PENDLE Borough Council is considering lowering the age limit of taxi drivers from 21 to 20.

The move follows an appeal from a 20-year-old Nelson man who was refused a licence from the council last year.

At the appeal the council put forward evidence which, they claimed, showed driver under the age of 21 have a higher accident rate.

Despite this, magistrates ruled that it was an individual applicant who must be considered in each case.

The applicant had been driving for three years, had a clean driving licence and was subsequently granted his taxi permit.

Because of this the council have admitted that a policy of refusing licences to those under the age of 21 can no longer be sustained. It was also found to be a breach of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Plans to scrap the limit will be discussed at a meeting of the council's Licensing Committee at Nelson Town Hall tonight at 7pm.