Private hire driver and passenger arrested after being stopped in possession of an axe and cocaine

A Calderdale licensed private hire driver and his passenger have both been arrested after the minicab they were travelling in was stopped by police and a weapon and drugs were found in the vehicle.

Cumbria Roads Policing team stopped the vehicle on the A590 dual carriageway near Newby Bridge.

Officers said after a lengthy discussion with the two men, they were both arrested due to one breaching his restraining order and both for possession of an axe and a large quantity of cocaine.

The incident was listed on the policing team's official Twitter account, along with an image of the vehicle sporting its yellow Calderdale private hire licence plate.

The successful stop and arrest was praised by members of the public who congratulated the officers.

But one was in complete shock on how the driver was able to obtain a licence from the council, saying: "How on earth did he get a licyand pass a DBR police check to become a taxi driver. Halifax licensing authority needs to provide a few answers! Also an axe? Lethal weapon unless you're a lumberjack and he clearly wasn't!."

Both men now await a court date to learn their fate.

Image credit: Twitter - @CumbriaRoadsPol