TAXI drivers and private hire operators face weekly safety checks under tough new regulations as town hall bosses step up their bid to get dangerous cars off the roads.

Owners in Blackburn and Darwen will have to carry out weekly checks if the new package of proposals is approved by councillors.

The latest crackdown comes after a series of swoops revealed many of the borough's taxi cabs and private hire cars were dangerous.

Taxi and private hire drivers were furious when a new points system for safety was introduced last year.

Anyone with more than 12 points faces losing the licence.

The latest spot checks were carried out by council officials and police last month.

Fourteen private hire cars and ten black cabs were checked at the council-run garages in Davyfield Road.

Eight of the private hire cars and their licences suspended and four were banned from the road. Six of the hackney cabs had mechanical faults and had their licences suspended.

Faults discovered included steering and braking defects, broken lights, oil leaks and missing nuts.

One of the black cabs was even found to have a hole in the driver's compartment floor.

The latest weekly inspections will be made a condition on any licenses and operators will have to keep a record of the checks carried out for each vehicle.

Drivers will also have to inform the council of any change of address within ten days of moving.

A report to the Blackburn with Darwen Council's public protection sub-committee says: "The prime concern of the licensing section is the safety of the public.

"Enforcement operations over recent years have highlighted problems with the maintenance of hackney carriages and private hire vehicles.

"They have resulted in licensed vehicles having prohibition notices served on them by the police due to the serious nature of the defects found on them during these inspections."

Mohammed Younis, chairman of Blackburn's taxi association, said: "The council have not told us about these inspections but I will going to the meeting next week.

"We will decide on our reaction to the new rules once the council has contacted us about them."

Town hall officials are urging councillors to approve the move when the public protection sub-committee meets on Wednesday.

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