Blackpool shock

LEFT stranded . . . some of the group (back, from left) Simon Davies, Martin Petrillo, Alistair Cameron, Mark Greaves, Martin Lane and Chris Hudson. Front: Kayleigh Houghton, Jenny Cook, Dionne Willis and Leanne Bridgehouse

Taxi left pals stranded at 4am because driver ‘didn’t feel safe’

A ROW has broken out after 14 pals were forced to shell out £500 in taxi fares when a minibus left them stranded in Blackpool on New Year’s Eve.

The group of nine men and five women pre-booked a return taxi with MK Mini Bus Travel, of Werneth.

But a 4am text informed the gang they would not be picked up — because of their rowdy behaviour on the outward-bound journey to the North-West party capital earlier that night.

They spent £300 on three taxis back to Oldham — adding up to a total of £500 on travel costs for the night.

Driver Mohammed Khan claims the youngsters had been drinking heavily, taking drugs and “sticking heads out of windows” on the journey into Blackpool.

He said their disorderly behaviour even caused damage to the minibus. As a result, Mr Khan reported the incident to police upon his arrival in the seaside resort — then refused to collect his fare. The friends deny drug-taking and bad behaviour claims, saying they only drank booze because Mr Khan told them they could do so.

Kayleigh Houghton (20), from Chapel Way Gardens, Royton, said she originally booked the taxi back in November, 2008.

She said: “Before we set off on New Year’s Eve, one of the lads asked the driver if we could drink. He said we could, providing we didn’t smoke.

“So, yes — we did drink on the journey, because the driver said we could. And we didn’t smoke inside the taxi because it wasn’t allowed.

“None of us took drugs because we are against it. No-one was sticking their head out of the window either.

“It was completely out of order leaving us in Blackpool.

“Temperatures were sub-zero and we didn’t even have coats. It ruined our New Year party.

The pals are now looking into taking the matter to the small claims court.

Stephen Bridgehouse (47), from Royton, father to one of the passengers, has submitted a complaint to Oldham Council’s Licensing Authority.

He said: “The driver left them there, they were stuck and they were vulnerable. It was very irresponsible. If someone had done that to his children, he wouldn’t be very happy about it.”

Mr Khan, who has 10 years’ experience driving buses in Oldham, claims the group knocked back booze all the way to Blackpool, refusing to stop despite repeated warnings.

He also said one of the passengers stuck his head out of the window while on the motorway.

He said: “As soon as we hit the motorway, the bottles came out.

“One guy stuck his head right out of the window while we were in the middle lane, so I had to pull over to the hard shoulder.

“I had to pull over a few times. They messed me about all the way to Blackpool.

“When they got out they left all their bottles in the back and the seats were wet.

“I didn’t feel safe driving them back so tried calling them but they never answered the phone.

“Eventually, I decided to text them and reported the incident to the police.

“It was an appropriate decision. It would have been me in the dock if anything had happened.”