WITH Christmas fair's and parties in full swing Sedgemoor District Council is urging its residents to stay safe this Christmas and book taxis in advance of their evening out.

The council has released guidelines about council licenced taxis to ensure residents find them easy to identify and to prevent residents from travelling in unlicenced and uninsured taxis.

They have also given advice to residents when travelling home after nights out and have encouraged them to book their journey in advance.

Ensure that the driver is displaying a council approved driver's badge. For your own safety, always take a council licensed vehicle - the driver and vehicle have both been checked.

Always ensure the meter is used in a hackney carriage. The meter must only be switched on once you are in the vehicle. The meter shows the maximum by law that can be charged for the journey from pick up to drop off. Operators are perfectly entitled to charge below this but cannot charge more.

Don't let a good night out be ruined by an unlicensed taxi. Always book in advance or make sure you have the number of several local taxi firms stored in your mobile phone before going out.

Before getting in a taxi ensure the driver knows the destination and always sit in the back. Make sure that you're picked up and dropped off somewhere familiar and well lit, however if you feel uneasy with the driver ask them to stop at a busy, familiar place and get out.

Here are the council's guidelines for identifying a licenced taxi.

 • Hackney Carriage Vehicles have a green roof sign and a green and white plate attached to the front and rear of the vehicle displaying the vehicle licence number they also have a duplicate plate displayed in the front window

• Hackney Carriages can pay for hire from designated taxi ranks and can pick up passengers who flag them down

• Private Hire Vehicles have a blue and white plate attached to the front and rear of the vehicle displaying the vehicle licence number. They also have a smaller duplicate plate in the front window.

• Private Hire Vehicles can only be booked in advance through an operator they cannot be flagged down.