Police find fault with taxis

The majority of taxis stopped in Stoke-on-Trent during recent checks have been found to be faulty.

As a result, a number have been taken off the road.

Staffordshire Police completed safety checks on 20 taxis and private hire vehicles and found 18 to be defective.

Nine were taken off the road immediately.

Problems included mechanical and structural defects, poor tyres and broken lights.

Police also discovered that there were unlicensed drivers on the roads. They now face prosecution.

Several more random checks are planned.