A KEIGHLEY private hire firm boss renewed his call for a stricter regime to ensure taxi company vehicles in the district are up to scratch.

Speaking at a meeting of Keighley Public Transport Watch Stuart Hastings, of Metro-Go Private Hire, said some operators are spending far less than the minimum required to make sure their vehicles are in a safe condition.

"You can spend just £1,000 and be a taxi driver, and that's not right," he said.

"A lot of the cars being used are too old. They need to be tested more than once a year if they're over a certain age.

"It's easy to make a car pass its test, but it's very difficult to keep that car safe for its next 40 to 50,000 miles until its next test.

"Even a 60 to 70 per cent pass rate for these vehicles when they are tested is very poor. That rate should be much higher."

Also speaking at the meeting, Bradford Council licensing inspector Steve Knighton said the latest pass rate for taxis in standard licensing tests was 71 per cent, with 64 per cent passing in random tests.

He emphasised that most of the cars that failed were due to minor issues.

"We are trying to get the message out to operators to get their vehicles checked," he said.