REVELLERS are urged to take care when catching a taxi at the end of a Christmas night's partying.

Licensing officers have issued a checklist to help people make sure that their taxi and driver are bona fide.

If the vehicle has an illuminated sign it is a public hire vehicle: all others fall under the private hire category.

Public hire vehicles, also known as Hackney carriages, can be flagged down in the street and work off the ranks. Private hire vehicles must be pre-booked. Passengers will not be insured if they get into one they have flagged down.

Officers also suggest that people make sure that their taxi carries the correct plates, company details and ID badges.