Novelty limos branded 'safety risk'

A Traffic Commissioner described the firms' owner as an "unreliable and untruthful rogue". Bilston-based Redhot Rescue and Oddball Limos, are both 'on hold' following the damning report.

The firms, which ferry hundreds of revellers to parties, hen nights and proms across the region, have a fleet of novelty vehicles, including a fire engine with its own dancefloor and an ambulance staffed by 'partymedics.'

But an 11-page report into the businesses, owned by Darryl Williams, revealed a catalogue of breaches of regulations including old fire engines and ambulances still being licensed as emergency vehicles - and therefore not paying tax.

Other problems included vehicles running without the correct licences or MOTs, no listing of Oddball Limos Ltd at Companies House, too many passengers on board and a 22-seater bus that had a brake failure so severe it was banned from the roads.

The report by the Government-appointed commissioner Nick Jones was drawn up, following an application by Mr Williams for a Public Service Vehicle licence for two vehicles kept at Talbot Place and Alexander Industrial Estate, both in Bilston.

The application was officially turned down but prompted scrutiny of his two companies.

Now the Traffic Commissioner has called for a conduct hearing, which could result in the revocation and disqualification of Mr Williams' other licences.

Mr Jones said: "I find as a fact that Darryl Williams is unreliable and untruthful where it suits his purposes. He has attempted to mislead and confuse."

But Mr Williams insisted he had taken the vehicles off the road.

He said: "Things are on hold at the minute but we are looking to make improvements."