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Taxi firm investigated following mosque prayer allegations during school run
A TAXI firm is being investigated following claims a driver left a group of children alone in a car during a school run while he went to pray in a mosque.
A driver for taxi company Tiger Taxis, a taxi service based in Clitheroe, has been accused of 'negligence' after a group of children, believed to be between 12 and 14, were left alone in one of the firm's taxis while dropping them home from Coal Clough Academy, in Burnley after 1pm on Friday afternoon.
Tiger Taxis is contracted to provide transport for school children from the Swindon Street Academy and received the contract from Lancashire County Council. The taxi driver's actions is alleged to have occurred after he received a phone call from one of his friends who told him it was "time to go and pray" while the children were being driven home in the taxi.
The driver stopped his car near a mosque in Nelson and left the children in the car for 15 minutes, it has been claimed.
One of the children in the car, Paul Jackson Jr, was 30 minutes late getting to his home in Kelbrook, Barnoldswick as a result of the driver's actions, his father said. Paul Jackson, 44, who lives in Kelbrook and is a 30 minute car journey away from the Swindon Street academy said he was furious after he learnt his 13-year-old son was one of the children left alone in the vehicle. He said: "It's highly unacceptable and unsafe to leave children alone in a car."
Paul also claims a different taxi driver, working for the same firm, left children in a car alone to stop off at a petrol station to pick up some alcohol. He said the drivers are routinely late in picking up and dropping off school children. He said: "The children are regularly late to school because of the drivers. "My son gets in trouble at school for late attendance because he is looked at as being late. "It's rubbish."
The 44-year-old man, who runs Roof Rangers Ltd in Kelbrook, has now called for the driver to be sacked following the incident. He said: "I want the driver to lose his job because he should not be doing that at all. "I also want to see an apology from Lancashire County Council and for them to sack the company because they are responsible for this."
Coal Clough Academy, who were contacted about the incident, said the issue has been 'escalated' to County Hall. A spokesman from Coal Clough Academy said: "We have been made aware of the issue and escalated it to Lancashire County Council who organise transport on our behalf and they are dealing with it in the appropriate way."
Lancashire County Council is now investigating the allegations made by Mr Jackson. A spokesman said: "I can confirm that we have been made are aware of an issue which we are currently investigating."
Burnley Cllr Tony Martin, who represents the area, said the taxi firm should be 'reprimanded' if the company and driver are found to be guilty of the allegations levelled against them. He said: "It's unacceptable to leave children unaccompanied under any circumstances. "I hope a thorough investigation is taking place and if that is the case make sure they are reprimanded.
"The driver should make prayers between ferrying kids around and not whilst ferrying kids about. "It's about the safety of the children, which is paramount. "If he is a religious person he should know this."
Tiger Taxis were contacted but refused to comment.
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