UNLICENSED taxi drivers were seen dropping off children on school runs, a court heard yesterday.

The drivers both worked for Kevin's Taxis, in Sunnybrow, near Willington.

The company's proprietor, Kevin Bake, was found guilty of three charges of employing drivers who did not have permits from local authority Wear Valley District Council.

Mr Bake, 43, of Rockingham Road, did not attend court or enter a plea. He was fined a total of £450, with £450 court costs.

He has also lost his school contracts with Durham County Council, the court heard.

Driver, Wendy Bake, 34, of the same address, was seen by a county council contract inspector driving a taxi at the Meadows School, in Spennymoor, in January.

She also did not appear in court and was fined £150 with £150 costs in her absence.

Wayne Bowron, 28, of Moorland Close, Sunnybrow, was seen dropping off a child in Toronto and at a nursery school in Sunderland.

He pleaded guilty by letter to two charges of driving a taxi without a licence and was fined £75 on each count, with the same amount in costs.