Black cabs hit US roads

The cabs have had to be converted to left-hand drive

London's distinctive black cabs will roll into the United States this week after attracting the interest of taxi companies and at least one Hollywood star.

The cars have to be repainted yellow if they are to be used as cabs, because of regulations governing taxi colours in US cities.

But they will keep the extra headroom required under old London Public Carriage Office rules to accommodate a gentleman's top hat.

Entrepreneur Larry Smith bought the exclusive rights to the cars after they caught his eye during a family holiday to England in 2000.

At least 125 have now been sold in the US to both taxi companies and private buyers - including actor and would-be politician Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The Terminator star bought one of the first cabs to be shipped to the US for his own use.

The London taxi has an aura about it that we are confident will appeal to customers Andrew Stoppelman, New York cab boss

A fleet of yellow London cabs will go to work in Chicago next week and more could follow in New York.

Mr Smith has spent £4m fitting them to meet US safety and emissions standards.

He hopes to have more than 3,000 cabs on the roads in the US and Canada within four years.

Andrew Stoppelmann, of the Bronxville Taxi company in Westchester, New York state, said he ordered two of the British cabs to boost his fleet.

"The London taxi has an aura about it that we are confident will appeal to customers," he said.

"The drivers are very excited about their arrival too - some of them are already practising their cockney accents."