Four taxis have been taken off the road in a Christmas crackdown on safety. Hertsmere Borough Council licensing officers checked more than 50 vehicles before the festive season, when there is an increase in people using taxis.

The safety checks were carried out at a garage in Manor Way, Borehamwood, where drivers’ vehicle documents were checked and the cabs were inspected to make sure they were roadworthy and safe for passengers.

All licensed drivers were invited to attend the session and in total, 50 private hire vehicles and four hackney carriages from across the borough were checked.

Of these, 13 drivers were given advice on things including tyre pressure, 11 vehicles had minor defects and drivers were given a set time to fix the problem, and four vehicles had defects which made them unsafe.

Councillor Martin Heywood, chairman of the borough’s licensing committee, said: “Most of the vehicles inspected were in a good condition and most drivers felt it was a worthwhile exercise.

“The inspections take place regularly throughout the year but we thought it was a good idea to arrange a session before Christmas as generally, people are more likely to use a taxi over the festive season.”

The four drivers with unsafe taxis had their vehicle licence plates suspended until the problems, which included defective tyres, are fixed.

Mr Heywood added: “There was a marginal improvement compared to the last session of checks we did but I await the day when we find no faults or defects. The checks continue to be important to ensure all taxis and private hire vehicles are safe for passengers and other road users.”