A CHECK on taxis found that the majority had faults and would not pass an MOT.

The investigation from Blackburn with Darwen Council also found that many of the 41 vehicles pulled over for spot checks had serious safety faults.

Problems included dangerous tyres and broken springs.

There were also issues with vehicles needing work to rectify inoperative lights, no water in screen washers, signage and valeting.

Only eight of the private hire and hackney carriage vehicles stopped passed the inspections with no faults.

Coun Dave Harling said: “The results show that there is a need to carry on with the spot checks.

“The majority of the taxis had faults of one kind or another.

“Safety is paramount and it is crucial that taxi drivers ensure that their vehicles are kept in correct working order.

“Eight of the taxis passed the safety checks but so should all of them.”

The safety operation took place on Friday night.

The council said 12 of the cars were immediately taken off the roads for serious faults which affected public safety.

An additional 21 taxis were given seven-day notices for faults and breaches that needed rectifying.

The council, police and an officer from Department of Work and Pensions were involved in the operation which ran from 9pm until 2.30am.

Taxis were stopped and checked by an MOT inspector from the council’s transport services division.