WOULD-BE cab drivers have been turning up a licensing meetings to request driver's permits with interpreters - because their English is so poor they cannot make themselves understood.

Councillors today revealed drivers had turned up on several occasions at licensing meetings with interpreters, while on average four people a week apply for a licence even though they can't even speak English.

Now all new drivers face a 15-minute test to make sure they can communicate in English, can do simple maths and can find their way around the borough before they are considered for a licence.

Members of Blackburn with Darwen Council's licensing committee have given their backing to the scheme, which will be introduced in October. Applicants who fail will be told to sign up for a Blackburn College course designed to teach them the skills they need to communicate with passengers.

Taxi firms and councillors believe that by ensuring drivers can communicate properly, the potential for conflict and confrontation can be reduced.

Mohammed Ilyas, the council's taxi driver training officer, who was a driver for 14 years before joining the council, said: "The test will demonstrate quickly whether an applicant can communicate properly with passengers.

"It will help keep drivers safe, while customers will know the driver can answer questions and get them from A to B along the shortest route. There are a minority of drivers who struggle with English and we are working with them to try and get them to take courses. Most do see it is in their interests to do so."

Coun Edward Harrison, who sits on the licensing commottee, said: "We had the ridiculous situation recently where an applicant turned up to this committee with an interpreter and did not have a clue what was going on.

"It hasn't happened just once and begs the question how do you get a driving licence if you can't speak English?"

Jenette Hicks, from the council's licensing team, said: "We are getting people turning up each week, maybe four a week, who can't speak English but want to drive taxis."

Coun Hussain Akhtar said: "We can check new drivers, but taxi firms need to make sure they only employ drivers who can communicate properly. If the drivers who can't don't get work, then they will take the course."

Coun Paul McGurty added: "The least people should be able to expect when they order a taxi is that they can be understood and the driver knows where they are going. Having people turn up with interpreters is ridiculous and the question has to be why we have drivers on the road who can't speak English? Who licensed them?"

Vice-chairman Ronald O'Keeffe said: "There is little we can do about the existing drivers, but we are taking a step in the right direction. No one else will be able to start driving if English is a problem."