Taxi firm Addison Lee has bought US rival Flyte Tyme to try to keep pace with the astronomical rise of Uber.

The private equity-owned company said the move would bolster global sales to nearly £400m and cement its position as one of the world’s biggest chauffeur businesses.

Flyte Tyme is based in New Jersey and has a turnover of £53m, with 525 staff and 375 drivers.

The move comes after Addison Lee boosted its global footprint in June last year by buying Tristar Worldwide, which has operations in 80 countries.

The global taxi industry has undergone a radical shake-up following the rise of Uber’s ride-hailing smartphone app, which has driven down cab fares for consumers but come under fire from traditional taxi drivers.

 Andy Boland, chief executive of Addison Lee, said the Flyte Tyme deal was an important moment for the executive car industry.

The tie-up will hand Addison Lee – which is owned by US private equity firm The Carlyle Group – a combined US fleet of 400 premium vehicles and more than 17,000 executive cars through ‘affiliate partners’.

It will boost annual US revenues to more than £82m per year.

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DURHAM

 Tributes have been paid to a Durham father-of-three who was killed by a taxi on New Year’s Eve.

Leslie Hebdon, from King Street in Spennymoor, was on Front Street in Tudhoe when the white Nissan Qashqai taxi hit him just before midnight.

The 38-year-old suffered multiple injuries and died at the roadside.

Mr Hebdon, who was known to friends and family as Les, was father to two sons and a daughter - Jordan, aged 20, Sasha, who is 16 and 13-year-old Alex.

His sister, Jane Sapsed, has issued a heartfelt statement on behalf of the family.

She described Les as: “A beloved son, dad and brother who was tragically taken from us on New Year’s Eve.

“He is gone, but will never be forgotten.”

A tribute on Facebook read : "RIP Les Hebdon so, so sad. Another good lad taken to soon.”

Another said: “My heart goes out to all who knew and loved him. Rest in peace Les Hebdon.”

A statement from Durham Constabulary , explaining the circumstances of the tragic death, said: “A pedestrian who died when he was struck by a taxi late on New Year’s Eve has now been formally identified.

“The taxi had dropped off a fare at the Gala Theatre in Durham and was travelling up the bank towards Spennymoor on its way back to the taxi office in Bishop Auckland.

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WALES

 Police are appealing for information after a 16-year-old man was injured in a collision with a taxi in Barry on Tuesday night.

It happened at 10.30pm on Barry Road, just opposite the Llewellyn Street junction.

He is being treated at the University Hospital of Wales, where his condition is described as "life-threatening".

Police say they would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the collision, saw a group of male pedestrians prior to the collision who were walking along Barry road or who stopped to provide assistance, or anyone who may have seen the white Octavia taxi being driven.
The road has now reopened.

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NEWCASTLE

 Investigations are under way into how an unmanned police car became involved in a city centre bump with a taxi.

A video clip posted on Facebook by the taxi driver shows his dash-cam footage of the empty patrol car as it appears to roll steadily backwards in his direction.

A pedestrian, apparently oblivious to the approaching danger, is seen crossing the road in what appears to be a narrow miss then the picture wobbles as the taxi itself is hit.

The footage has attracted a huge number of comments on social media, with one man commenting: “Could have been problems with the hand brake?”

The taxi involved is stationary in Newgate Street, Newcastle, when its on-board camera initially picks up the police car pulling in just ahead and stopping just beyond the junction with Clayton Street.

Then two police officers get out, heading off towards Sinners pub.

Next the empty police car begins to roll slowly backwards towards the taxi whose camera captures its approach followed by the inevitable collision which brings it to a stop.

None of the aftermath of the collision is recorded in the clip, which was posted around 3am on Bank Holiday Monday by taxi driver Kevin Trett with the words “Oops!”

A spokeswoman for Northumbria Police said the officers had been responding to reports of a fight at the time it happened.

The police statement said: “At 1.26am on Monday, January 2, officers in Newcastle responded to a report of two men fighting in the street outside of the Sinners bar in New Bridge Street. Two men were arrested in connection with the incident.

“While dealing with the incident the officers’ vehicle was involved in a minor collision with a taxi in New Bridge Street.

“The police car was undamaged and the taxi sustained very minor damage during the collision.

“An investigation into the incident is ongoing.”

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