A NORTH-EAST taxi firm has had to travel to the Czech Republic to recruit cabbies - because it cannot find any at home.

Station Taxis, in Darlington, placed adverts for drivers in local JobCentres, newspapers and on radio but failed to receive a single response.

Owner Michael Dunn said his only option was to go further afield for new employees - so he headed to Prague.

"We can't find drivers in the town," he said. "We have advertised for the last 18 months and we have had no replies. People are unwilling to be taxi drivers."

Darlington has an acknowledged shortage of taxi drivers, with some cabbies blaming the introduction of an advanced driving test for deterring potential recruits.

But Mr Dunn said he believed low employment levels and "laziness" simply meant most people in Darlington did not fancy the job.

So far, he has recruited three Czech drivers - Jerry Slavik, 56, Petr Stursa, 28, and Petr Volf, 28 - to Darlington, with four more to follow.

The men will each have to pass the advanced Driving Standards Agency test, a local knowledge test and an exam on licensing laws before they can receive their badges and pick up private-hire passengers.

"The men have to go through the same procedure as every other driver and will be on the same money as the rest when they pass the tests," said Mr Dunn.

Station Taxis manager Andy Watson said: "I have been working with these guys for a month and they are really nice people and very keen to learn."

Mr Slavik, a married father-of-two from Prague, said: "I love England. I'm happy to be here."

Ann Marku, Darlington Borough Council's principal licensing officer, said: "The last meeting we had with the taxi trade, the trade was telling us that they could not employ in Darlington. They said there was a shortage and they were having difficulty.

"We are delighted to have been a part of Station Taxis bringing these lads over. At the end of the day we are part of Europe. I think it's great."