A Hereford taxi firm has raced to the front of the pack after unveiling a state-of-the-art 'wheelchair-friendly' cab.

Benny's Cabs has bought a Peugeot E7, which is the first of its kind in Herefordshire and the most advanced wheelchair accessible taxi available.

Proprietor Tony Hill last week received his Hackney Carriage Licence for the vehicle..

Herefordshire Council's taxi licensing officer, Mick Morris, said: "This new vehicle complies with all the latest Government requirements both nationally and throughout Europe and is the sort of taxi we want to encourage operators to use."

£23,000

Tested and certified to meet more than 50 of the EU's toughest safety directives, the £23,000 vehicle is fitted with a solid ramp, three-point seatbelts and electronic wheelchair restraints.

The vehicle can take a maximum of seven passengers and luggage, and the driver can load a wheelchair-bound passenger into it.

Benny's Cabs manager Patrick Edwards used to work for SCOPE, a disability organisation that focuses on helping people with cerebral palsy.

"Hereford has a large disabled community, when considering the Royal National College for the Blind, and a vehicle like this will make it far easier for the disabled community to travel around," he said.

The distinctive design and clear silver lines of the vehicle should make it easily recognisable throughout Herefordshire.