Taxi driver Mick Kirlew has taken out some extra insurance for his vehicle - courtesy of a Skipton vicar.

The cabbie had his taxi blessed by the Rev Adrian Botwright to keep his passengers safe on their travels.

Mr Kirlew, who works for Star Taxis in Skipton, said that as a retained firefighter in the town for 14 years, he had too often seen the aftermath of car accidents attended by firefighters.

"You get insurance for when you have had an accident but I wanted that extra bit of insurance to prevent me having an accident," he said.

Mr Botwright said prayers for the taxi, the driver and passengers. The car was blessed with holy water.

"Taxi drivers know they have our lives in their hands," he said.

"Our taxi drivers in Skipton are a wonderful bunch of people and this blessing was a way of affirming all that they do for us."