PRIVATE hire taxi firms in Blackburn and Darwen are facing a clampdown after it was revealed 85 per cent of private hire cars fail their MOT on the first attempt.

Blackburn with Darwen Council also looks set to phase out private hire taxis which are over five years old in an attempt to improve the situation.

Councils are allowed to make such a move as a result of a landmarkcourt case involving a Hyndburn taxi company which established the legal principle that age bans can be set on taxis in 1992.

A survey in August discovered that 85 per cent of private hire vehicles failed their MOT at first attempt and since then further surveys have confirmed the high failure rate.

In September the council's public protection committee was told that out of 16 cars tested that month six had their licenses suspended due to faults found.

The council's public protection committee has been advised by officers to give the go ahead to the move, which will mean no car which is more than five years old from April 1 will be licensed as a private hire vehicle in the borough.

And if the go ahead is given, a further restriction will come into force from April 1, 2001, which will mean the council will only re-licence vehicles which are under seven years of age from the date of first registration.

A report drawn up by Jenette Hicks, the council's principal environmental health officer, will be presented to councillors. It says: "The effect this will have on the private hire fleet is to upgrade the standard of vehicle and aims to reduce the potential for road accidents."

Mick Curic, chairman of the Blackburn with Darwen Private Hire Association, said: "I hope people don't get the wrong idea about this.

"Just because 85 per cent is the figure mentioned does not mean people should get carried away with the idea so many private hire vehicles are unsafe.

"I don't think there should be an over-reaction to this, but anything which convinces the public private hire cars are safe has got to be a good thing."

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