SCORES of defects were uncovered when police made a check of all 140 east Durham taxis.

Four cabs were ordered off the road during the inspection by officers from the accident investigation unit, and a further 17 were issued with defect notices requiring action within 14 days.

The check of hire vehicles licensed by Easington District Council is part of a county-wide campaign designed to ensure that taxis are operating within the law and are safe to carry passengers.

The two-day inspection, at Easington, resulted in four operators having their licences withdrawn, two for faulty brakes and two for defective suspensions.

A spokesman for the unit said that registration plates would only be reinstated once the necessary repairs were carried out and were then approved by examiners.

Another 17 vehicles were issued with defect notices covering a total of 31 offences, including defective lights, tyres and dangerous bodywork.

The spokesman said: "The operators are required to have these defects repaired within 14 days, or they will be prosecuted.''

The owners of a further 59 vehicles were given verbal warnings for a number of minor defects.

These included infringements such as having faulty, or non-existent, fire extinguishers, and minor lighting defects.

The spokesman said: "This is part of a rolling programme which will continue across the county."

Similar checks, he said, had been carried out in Derwentside, Chester-le-Street and the Durham City Council areas.

"Ultimately, the check will be county-wide, and will continue at regular intervals," said the spokesman.