Nine out of 23 private hire and Hackney cabs stopped in North Somerset were found to have defects.
Spot checks by officers in Clevedon and Weston-super-Mare found the nine had faults including allegedly illegal tyres, exhaust and brake defects.

Another two drivers are being investigated by officials from the Department for Work and Pensions.

In September 2006, a third of vehicles pulled over and tested were found to have significant defects.

A police spokesman said: "It is important operators and drivers pay attention to the condition of their vehicles, which is vital given the public service role they daily undertake."

The multi-agency drive involved licensing officers from North Somerset Council, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) and the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP).

 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/6487047.stm