TAXI and private hire operators in a borough will be granted longer licences for hybrid or electric vehicles as part of a council's 'green' drive.

In future such cabs or cars registered in Hyndburn will be licensed for six months rather than the normal four because of their lower carbon emissions.

This means they will only need to be presented for inspection twice a year rather than three times.

Council leader Cllr Miles Parkinson said: "We are happy to back this move towards greener vehicles.

"As a council we’ve already committed to making the our activities net-zero carbon and achieving 100 per cent clean energy across the full range of functions by 2030, and this is a positive step towards our goal.

"We hope that this will incentivise applicants to purchase a cleaner hybrid or electric vehicle as the proposals will save them money."