Black cabs suspended after fires

The manufacturer cannot determine what caused the fires

Six hundred black cabs have had their Hackney Carriage licence suspended indefinitely in the wake of eight taxis bursting into flames in three months.

Transport for London (TfL) announced that despite 200 inspections so far, no cause had been found for the fires.

As a result, all TX4 taxis with a 56 registration have had their licences pulled until further notice.

TfL said the decision was taken in the interest of public safety. There are 21,000 black cabs in London.

Although nobody has been hurt to date, we just can't take any chances with the lives of taxi drivers, passengers and other road users Ed Thompson, Director of Taxi and Private Hire

Following the latest taxi fire on Wednesday evening in central London, any taxis that fit the suspect model and had not been inspected by the Coventry-based manufacturer were pulled off the road.

But after London Taxis International carried out 200 inspections in the past week and failed to identify the fault causing the fires, the move was made to suspend the licences.

Taxi owners are banned from carrying passengers.

Ed Thompson, Director of Taxi and Private Hire at the Public Carriage Office, said: "This isn't a step we have taken lightly and we know it will be a blow for taxi drivers.

"Although nobody has been hurt to date, we just can't take any chances with the lives of taxi drivers, passengers and other road users."