NEW rules which aim to crack down on ageing taxis are set to be introduced in a Hampshire borough.

Test Valley licensing committee councillors will decide on Thursday whether to vote through a stricter age and condition policy for cabs it licenses in a bid to cut down on fumes and beef up safety. Presently if a vehicle is over six years of age it will be inspected and licensed every six months.

But now the council wants to no longer license black and mini cabs that are more than five years old.

Taxis that are already licensed will only be allowed to be no more than 13 years, with this reducing to ten by 2017.