IT'S not the first thing on the list of qualities you look for in a taxi driver.

Street knowledge and driving skills, yes. But grandfather Laurence Kirk has been told he can't get behind the wheel - because he doesn't know how to use an apostrophe.

Mr Kirk, 50, is trying to get a licence to become a private hire driver - but can't get past Bournemouth Borough Council's English language tests.

He said: "I used to be a taxi driver, and I was a good and successful one. But now the council are telling me I can't work as a taxi driver because I don't know how to use an apostrophe or where to put a semi-colon."

Mr Kirk, from Westbourne, said that none of the tests he has taken have any bearing on working as a taxi driver.

He said: "No one has asked me if I know Bournemouth or what I would do if approached by a drunk person, just where to put an apostrophe.

"This is bureaucracy gone ballistic."

Steve Wright, principal licensing officer for the council said the English test was a way to evaluate the level of support the drivers will need to take a BTEC in Transporting Passengers by Taxi and Private Hire, which is a requirement for all taxi drivers in Bournemouth.

He said: "The test allows us to assess the candidate's abilities and understanding to enable us to offer the right support in order to fulfil the further requirements in gaining their licence.

"These include a local knowledge test as well as the BTEC required by the council."

Mr Kirk said he thought it was ridiculous the council also carried out police checks after candidates had passed all other components of the test.

Drivers who fail the check are not allowed a licence.

But the council said police checks were needed to ensure drivers were up to standard.