POLICE have vowed to continue a purge on taxis across the town after random checks revealed a catalogue of mechanical defects.

Traffic police teamed up with Swindon Council enforcement officers and benefit office staff to lead the attack at the County Ground on Tuesday.

During a three-hour check of 59 Hackney carriages and private hire vehicles they found eight had defective tyres, while one had a faulty exhaust.

Another taxi's tyres were in such a poor state one of its steel cords were showing.

Some 11 vehicles had minor mechanical faults such as defective lights and officers issued 13 verbal warnings.

Sergeant Bill Giles, of Swindon police, said: "We checked Hack-ney carriages and private hire vehicles after members of the public complained to us about the poor maintenance of some vehicles and drivers not displaying their badges properly.

"This is the first serious check for some considerable time and something we haven't put our energies into dealing with. People have complained and they were justified.

"It's a serious issue because this is road safety we're talking about.

"Professional drivers should be carrying out a professional service and people are entitled to expect everything to be 100 per cent I would like to think that we have prevented accidents happening somewhere.

"This is the minority of taxis and I don't think this should alarm people, but it's certainly something that taxi companies in Swindon need to take on board."

This check followed similar operations last week. Officers carried out Operation Mermaid in partnership with Customs and Excise officers at Leigh Delamere services on the M4.

And Operation Delivery checked goods vehicles suspected of being overweight at a temporary weighbridge site at the County Ground.

Giles Sheldrick