PETROL leaks in two taxis stopped by police in Rossendale were so serious they could have led to a fire.
Police stopped 20 cars and found defects in seven and four of those were ordered off the road immediately.
PC Rod Graham, of Pennine Division's Road Policing Unit, said: "The failure rate was much lower than previously and it is obvious that some of the operators are making a determined effort to improve their vehicles.
"However it is disturbing that those which failed their tests did so because of extremely serious defects.
"The petrol leaks in two of the vehicles were a definite fire hazard."
The police said the tests compared better that previous checks when seven out of ten taxis failed.
Other reasons for failure included a loose radio wire that interfered with the driver's control of the vehicle and a loose drivers seat. The minor defects were mainly for lighting offences.
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