A TAXI proprietor in Darlington is being investigated by council officials after repeatedly presenting faulty vehicles for inspection.

The man, who has not yet been named, will be asked to attend a licensing committee meeting next month to explain why his cars keep failing safety checks.

Licensing manager Barry Pearson told councillors at a meeting yesterday that one vehicle taken for inspection was in a "dangerous condition".

Its licence plate was removed and only reinstated after the car was repaired.

Officers are checking records to see how often the proprietor's vehicles have failed tests.

Mr Pearson said: "There has been a number of occasions where that proprietor has presented vehicles that have caused concern to the Vehicle Inspectorate over the last two years. He has allowed the condition of the vehicles to deteriorate. He is still running the vehicles and he is only running vehicles that have passed the inspection."