Benny's Cabs are looking forward to a successful year - thanks to the delivery of a new E7 from Cab Direct.

Their new vehicle is the first of its kind in Herefordshire, making it the most advanced wheelchair accessible vehicle in the area.

Proprietor Tony Hill is "delighted" with his new taxi, which he is planning to use to benefit the region's disabled community as well as able-bodied customers.

Benny's Cabs Manager Patrick Edwards had previously worked for disabled charity SCOPE and therefore had gained much experience of this sector. "Hereford has a large disabled community. The Royal College for the Blind is located here and a vehicle like the E7 will make it for easier for disabled people to get around," he said.

Tony learned about the E7 when his brother had seen the vehicle demonstrated at Hereford railway station.

Hereford Council were full of praise for the new vehicle as they are currently looking to have all of their hackney vehicles upgraded for wheelchair accessibility by 2010.

Taxi licensing officer Mick Morris said "The E7 complies with all the latest Government requirements both nationally and throughout Europe and is the sort of taxi we want to encourage operators to use."