Five taxis were suspended from trading and one vehicle was even seized after police carried out spot checks in four towns across Cornwall this week.

Working alongside Cornwall Council's taxi licensing officers, the Devon and Cornwall Roads Policing Team held a road safety operation that targeted taxis.

Taxi drivers in Truro, Falmouth, Camborne and Redruth were stopped – and while the "vast majority" were compliant with the regulations, a number of issues were found.

This included ten vehicles with defects, five of which were so serious they were temporarily suspended from trading and two were prevented from driving altogether, while one vehicle was seized.

Two drivers were also reported for offences at the wheel.

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesperson said: "Devon and Cornwall Roads Policing Team, working in collaboration with Cornwall Council taxi licensing officers, have carried out proactive stop checks on taxi vehicles operating in the Truro, Falmouth, Camborne and Redruth areas, as part of an ongoing vehicle safety and licensing compliance initiative.

"While the vast majority of taxi drivers were found to be operating with roadworthy vehicles and were fully compliant, the checks to date have resulted in a total of ten vehicle defect notices, five of which were suspended from trading, two prevented from driving, one vehicle seized, one driver reported for smoking in his vehicle and one driver reported for using a hand held mobile phone whilst driving."