A TAXI driver has had her appeal to extend her licence refused by Darlington Borough Council.

Elaine Finlayson, 51, of Scargill, Darlington, wanted to extend her taxi licence until next Tuesday when she is due to re-sit her taxi drivers test.

The council introduced the Driver Standards Agency test in October 2002 and said all taxi drivers applying for new licences would have to pass.

Miss Finlayson, who has been driving since she was 17 and has worked as a taxi driver in the town since 1994, failed the test on April 19, but has made arrangements to re-take it on Tuesday.

She appeared before the borough council's licensing committee yesterday and asked for the licence to be extended until the test date, but her appeal was turned down.

Miss Finlayson was told she had 21 days to appeal against the decision at Darlington Magistrates' Court.

If she does pass the driving test on Tuesday her taxi licence will be renewed immediately.