Taxi firms have been warned to improve safety after three-quarters examined in police spot checks were found to be faulty.

The random safety checks carried out by police and the local council found many cars were unsafe with some described as "potential death traps".

More than a quarter of the cars had to be taken off the road immediately because they were too unsafe to drive.

Mansfield District Council is now being urged to increase the number of checks on cab firms and drivers.

Hot oil

During the checks, 21 black cabs and private hire vehicles were stopped.

Six had serious faults affecting things such as brakes and steering.

One had oil dripping on to a hot exhaust pipe.

We have insisted and spoken to the council about bringing in six monthly checks and it has fallen on deaf ears

Roger Krishan, cab federation

Those vehicles were taken off the road immediately and another 10 checked had other faults which needed fixing.

Inspector Sean Konsek, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "Most certainly there are potential death traps and you can't get away from that.

"These were not trivial defects, these were quite serious defects."

Yearly checks

Roger Krishan, of Mansfield Taxi Federation, said it highlighted how for some firms and drivers "maintenance is not a priority".

"We have insisted and spoken to the council about bringing in six monthly checks and it has fallen on deaf ears," he said.

Currently drivers and firms are subject to yearly checks.

A statement from Mansfield District Council said it took issues of safety very seriously and said it was worth exploring the six month checks suggestion.