A TAXI driver's appeal against a local authority's decision not to renew his Hackney carriage licence was withdrawn yesterday.

Terry O'Neill had appealed against Darlington Borough Council's decision not to renew the permit in June because he refused to sit an advanced driving test.

Mr O'Neill has since successfully completed the Driving Standards Agency test so magistrates sitting at Bishop Auckland agreed to withdraw the appeal yesterday.

In July, a fellow Darlington taxi driver won his appeal against the council after it refused to issue a Hackney carriage licence on the same grounds.

On that occasion, magistrates found that the authority had acted beyond its powers by demanding drivers take the strict £47 test.