NICK Cronin could not have imagined how much trouble he would be in when he lent his car to his partner so she could pick up her daughter.

Days later, he was shocked to receive a letter from Herefordshire Council's taxi licensing department threatening him with a £1,000 fine - for operating an unlicensed taxi service.

It claimed his car had been spotted picking up and dropping off groups of people around Malvern.

But Mr Cronin, who owns printing and stationery business Microprint in Bromyard's Old Road, said it was actually just his partner picking up her 20-year-old daughter after nights out in the town, sometimes with some of her friends.

He has since written to the council complaining about what he said was the offensive tone of the letter and calling for them to apologise.

Now, months later, the furious motorist says he has yet to receive a written apology - and is demanding that the authority sends one or attempts to prosecute him.

"Coming up to Christmas we're all being told to be responsible and not drink and drive and then you get somebody who does the responsible thing and picks up their daughter and I get threatened with action," said Mr Cronin, who lives in Maple Close, Bromyard.

"If there's been a complaint they should try to find out more and not just sail in there.

"I want a written apology from them because it's easy just to say 'I'm sorry'."

Andrew Tector, head of environmental health and trading standards at the council, said they apologised for not responding sooner but the team were busy with liquor licensing applications because of the recent change in laws and that a letter was on the way to Mr Cronin.

He added: "We haven't accused Mr Cronin of anything but merely made him aware that a complaint has been made.

"The council has to take these very seriously as there are people who do operate unlicensed services and if there's an accident there are serious repercussions."