Richard Parr Vehicles in a fleet operated by a Fakenham taxi firm were taken off the road today in a joint operation involving police and local authority licensing staff.

Richard Parr

Vehicles in a fleet operated by a Fakenham taxi firm were taken off the road today in a joint operation involving police and local authority licensing staff.

Both uniformed and plain clothes officers were at the Bridge Street premises of Courtesy Cabs from just after 4pm as the silver taxis, including saloon cars and people carriers, arrived back at the base, some of their official taxi plates were being removed.

Members of the public witnessed intense activity at the location as uniformed officers came and went and licensing staff spoke to drivers returning to base after delivering their passengers.

It is understood the activity was related to public safety concerns connected to suspected insurance cover problems for some of the vehicles in the Courtesy fleet.

The firm has recently been hit by tragedy after one of its proprietors, Christopher Mundy, was found hanged at his home in Great Ryburgh, near Fakenham. An inquest has been opened into the circumstances surrounding his death and adjourned for further investigations. There were no suspicious circumstances, the inquest heard..

The funeral of Mr Mundy, a 54-year-old farther-of-two, is being held on Monday at St Faith's crematorium in Norwich.

Tonight Harry Mitchell, head of news at Norfolk police headquarters told the EDP : “If we believe a vehicle to be uninsured then it is in the best interests of all concerned to deem that the vehicle un-roadworthy. After all, public safety is our priority.”