Stoke. PH car kills pedestrian.

Police have appealed for witnesses to a fatal road crash in Stoke-on-Trent early today.

A man in his twenties, believed to live locally, died after he was involved in a collision with a taxi in High Street, Sandyford, at around 4.15am.

Police said a man was driving the car that hit the pedestrian. It was a Toyota Avensis private hire car carrying passengers home following a night out.

Paramedics attended the incident near Tunstall but nothing could be done to save the man's life and he was confirmed dead at the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "Crews arrived to

find a man and a car that had been in collision. The pedestrian, a man,

had suffered serious injuries and was in traumatic cardiac arrest.

"Unfortunately it quickly became apparent nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed dead at the scene."

PC Paul Hargreaves, from the collision investigation unit, said "We are keen to speak to anyone who was on their way home in the Tunstall and Sandyford areas at around 4am this morning.

"We have completed a very detailed examination of the scene and we have seized the car involved for further examination.

"Specially trained family liaison officers are working to inform the family of the man, and we understand he lived not far from the location of the collision. I urge anyone with information to contact us a soon as possible."

A male driver has been arrested in connection with the incident.

The road remained closed until midday to allow for the examination of the scene and recovery of the evidence.
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Bournemouth

A taxi driver who has spent 50 years behind the wheel of a cab has just clocked up 500,000 miles.

Mike Joy collected his first fare in 1963. But despite reaching retirement age 11 years ago, he's determined to carry on driving.

"It's nice to get up in the morning and not know where you will go in the day," he says. "One minute you could be in Bournemouth [his hometown] and the next you are half way up the country."

During his life on the road, Mike has seen the price of fairs rise from as little as one shilling six pence per mile to £4.12.

Famous passengers have included Tom Jones, Jim Davidson and Lionel Blair. "They all liked to chat to me as we drove along," Mike reveals. "When Tom Jones was touring in Bournemouth I used to take him to a nightclub with show girls."

Throughout his career he's driven a Morris Oxford, Austen Cambridge, Vauxhall Eelox, Austen Montego, a London taxi TX1 and now uses a yellow London taxi TX4.

"It was busier in the old days when you did six hours without switching your engine off," he reflects. "But nowadays you spend a lot of time waiting about. You aren't exactly rushed off your feet."

Mike hopes the day he collects his last fare is still some way off. "As long as I pass my medical every year I will continue to drive until I can't anymore," he says.
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Swansea, scruffy barstewards.

A CALL has gone out for a code of conduct and dress code to be introduced for taxi drivers - to stop them looking like "a collection of tramp/scarecrow look-a-likes".

Swansea resident Kelvin Hughes raised the issue after what he said was a bad experience with a cab in the city.

But cabbies and Swansea Council had defended taxi drivers in the county.
Mr Hughes said: “On crutches I caught a taxi: did the driver get off his backside to help? Of course not.

“People, tourists or business people arrive in Swansea for the first time and what do they see? A collection of tramp/scarecrow look-a-likes purporting to be taxi drivers.”
In the light of Swansea Bay’s bid to become the City of Culture in 2017, Mr Hughes called for a code of conduct and a dress code to smarten-up the image of taxi drivers.

But registered cabbies have rejected the accusation of slovenliness.

One driver, Andrew Bennett of Gorseinon's Phoenix Cabs, said helping people was part of the job.
Mr Bennett, who has been a taxi driver for 18 years, said: “I always make sure I look presentable as it provides people with a good opinion. I wear a polo shirt with my firm's name on it.
"Our job is dealing with the public and helping people is part and parcel of our job. If someone is struggling we make sure we help them."

He added: "A lot comes down to the driver’s personality – it’s in my nature to help someone out if they need assistance.”

A spokeswoman for Swansea Council said there were safeguards in place, and that the byelaws covering hackney carriages stated that drivers "must be suitably attired in suitable clean clothing" and their cabs must been clean, inside and out.