BOURNEMOUTH’S United Taxis has joined forces with competitor Star Radio Cars to expand the town’s largest fleet of cabs.

United said the deal brought extra benefits to Star Radio Cars customers, including a booking app, in-car credit card facilities and a text back service for bookings. It said the business would otherwise go on as normal.

United’s marketing director, Derek Heritage, said: “This is something both sides have been working on for a while and we’ve finally got there.

"We are thrilled and what’s more the new merger will include forty new cars, giving us a far bigger fleet whilst covering an even larger area. In addition we are recruiting a new member for the operational team.”

United Taxis is the largest cab firm in Bournemouth, with more than 22,200 hours on the roads every week. The deal adds 16 cars to its fleet, bringing the total to 192, and all Star Radio Cars staff have been offered positions with United.