AN airport-based taxi service which operated unlicensed for three months has been stung with a large fine after its owners dropped their appeal.

Anthony's Chauffering Services' licence was revoke after a council investigation found that the firm made 327 illegal journeys last year from its base at Durham Tees Valley Airport.

Councillors revoked the license because they found that the owner, Mark Anthony James, was not a fit person to operate the firm.

A separate legal investigation followed through the courts, when the firm was fined.

A subsequent planned appeal by Mr James was scheduled to be heard by magistrates on Thursday. However, he decided to drop the appeal and was ordered to pay the council's costs of £1,117.50.

Darlington Borough Council started its investigation in April 2008, when officers demanded to know why the firm had been granted an operating licence but had not applied for any for its vehicles or drivers.

Licensing officers visited the companys offices to inspect the booking records. They found the firm had been using unlicensed vehicles and drivers.

An agreement followed to produce the records the next day but none materialised. Taxi companies are required by law to keep a log of all bookings, which must be submitted on request by the local authority.

The council made further unsuccessful attempts to see the records. Instead an investigation recorded 327 illegal trips from June to September.

A hearing was due to take place in November, but Mr James was unavailable to attend because of a family matter.

The council decided to adjourn the meeting for one month because any outcome could be appealed.

By December, seven cars had been licensed but the first of those had not been made until September 23. Two drivers were also licensed on October 21.

A report by licensing officer Pam Ross said: "Members are invited to determine whether the operator is fit and proper to continue to hold an operators licence given that he has failed to produce booking records on request, failed to provide other information requested by officers and has continued to use unlicensed vehicles and drivers contrary to the advice given to him by officers."

Councillors decided to revoke the licence because of his record-keeping, concerns about the operation of the business and a claim that sub-contractors were carrying out business.

The Northern Echo attempted to contact the business but nobody was available.