ONLY 44 per cent of Darwen taxis met the required safety standards during inspections in the town centre.

The multi-agency taxi testing operation involved Blackburn with Darwen Council and the police last Friday.

Of the 16 vehicles inspected, four were immediately taken off the road for having bald tyres, with the drivers given three points and issued with fines.

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Five drivers were given seven days to put faults right and present their vehicles to be checked again.

The main faults were defective lights. Seven of the 16 vehicles tested met the safety standards.

Darwen MP Jake Berry said: “Before Christmas when people may be using local taxis for nights out, this shows that a worrying number of the vehicles are not fit for purpose.”