JUMBLE sale at Brighton Hill Community Association: On May 22, the jumble sale, organised by older people raised £92. Well done to everyone.

TAXIS and hire cars: What is the difference? My questions were answered on May 26 by the Basingstoke and Deane team, who gave advice at an exhibition outside Sainsbury's, Kempshott.

A taxi is a car that can be hailed in the street or hired at a taxi rank.

Many are purpose-built Hackney Carriages and they all must have authorised council licence plates on the front and back.

A private hire car can only be pre-booked at the operator's office, by telephone or in person.

Each car has a telephone number on the side and council licence plates on the front and back.

Safety advice includes not getting into any vehicles for hire that do not display borough council licence plates.

All drivers must display identity badges issued by the council, which show that drivers have undergone medical and police checks and are fit and satisfactory licensed drivers. Also, the vehicles have been checked to ensure safety.

Take care, because people without licences are known to operate private hire vehicles.

COUNCILLOR'S surgery: The next one will be on Saturday, July 3, from 11am to noon, in the main reception at Brighton Hill Community College. I look forward to continuing as a councillor until 2006 and beyond.