Mayor still hoping to ban out-of-town Manchester taxis

Mayor Andy Burnham has told BBC Radio Manchester he is still hoping to get powers to ban out-of-town private-hire taxis in Greater Manchester.

He says the current system means more than half of private-hire vehicles operating in the region are licensed elsewhere, posing a safety risk and making it unfair for local operators.

It follows concerns from English councils over licensing in Wolverhampton, where the number issued by the city tripled in five years.

The government left the issue out of the Devolution bill that passed through Parliament this week. Burnham said he was hoping the Lords could intervene. Wolverhampton Council previously denied it was "easier" to get a licence there.