A TAXI driver has criticised Darlington Borough Council after being forced to take down a party political poster.

George Jenkinson decided to show his support for Conservative candidate Tony Richmond by putting a campaign leaflet in his cab.

He said he did it because he is a Conservative supporter, and as a protest against the Labour-controlled authority, which he believes has done nothing to help taxi drivers.

But council chiefs have forced him to remove it.

Mr Jenkinson said: "As far as I am concerned, the Labour Party in Darlington has done nothing to help taxi drivers and by putting the leaflet up I was exercising my democratic right to express my feelings and views. It is my car and what I put in it should be up to me and not Darlington council."

A spokeswoman for the council said that by putting the leaflet in his window, Mr Jenkinson was in breach of his taxi licence.

"We believe it is inappropriate to have election material in cars which are licensed by the council," she said.