DOZENS of taxis were taken off Bolton’s roads last month after spot checks revealed a catalogue of licensing and safety breaches.

Bolton Council teamed up with Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency for the operation which took place over two weekends in June.

In total, 59 vehicles were stopped with 27 being handed a vehicle suspension notice for a variety of faults.

These included not having a fire extinguisher on board, insecure data systems, not having a fare card, various issues with lights or broken bulbs and illegal tyres.

Of these vehicles, one was a Hackney carriage and the rest were private hire vehicles.

A further six vehicles were given advisory notices for less serious issues.

Police also issued £100 penalty notices to 13 drivers for not wearing a seatbelt.

Cllr Anne Galloway, Bolton Council’s executive cabinet member for environmental regulatory services, said: “Passengers in Bolton should have every confidence that our private hire vehicles and Hackney carriages meet all the required safety standards.

“We continue to work with our partners in other agencies to enforce these regulations and ensure the minority of drivers who choose to break the rules are held to account.”

Sgt Paul Lenarcic from the Greater Manchester Police Safer Roads Targeting Team added: “The main aim of operation is for public safety and to reassure the public that the vehicles they get into are road legal, safe and are being driven by licensed drivers.

“Officers from the Safer Roads Targeting Team assisted Bolton Council in a multi-agency approach to achieve this.

“We will continue to work with the local authorities to ensure that people of Greater Manchester, are being kept safe on the roads.”