A TWO-seater Ferrari has been licensed as a private hire vehicle.

Kevin Lynn, of Courtenay Park, Newton Abbot, who operates Hummer 4U Ltd, successfully applied for the licence at Teignbridge Council's Regulatory and Appeals Committee, on Monday.

He also won approval for the plating of two stretch limousines – both Hummer H3s.

Mr Lynn told the meeting that the Ferrari 360 was his own and could only carry one passenger.

He asked the committee to consider allowing the licensing plate to be placed inside the vehicle, if it granted the licence.

Regarding the limousines, which were designed for the European market, he said his company received requests to use the vehicles for weddings, children's birthdays, etc.

They came out of America new in October 2006 and February 2007 and were registered to carry eight passengers.

'I would like to run them along with the Ferrari under private hire. At the moment the customer rents the vehicle and can contact a chauffeur company to hire a chauffeur to drive it, or they can drive it themselves.

'To my mind Joe Public should not be driving a limousine. They should have our experienced drivers,' he said.

Mr Lynn explained why he could not supply a Single Vehicle Approval Certificate, but had obtained a certificate of capability from the National Chauffeur and Limousine Association.

An inspection in Torbay earlier this month had not recommended any additional conditions for the limos.

The Ferrari was registered in January 2001. The council's policy for initial licensing required vehicles to be under five years old though novelty/specialist vehicles were exempt.

Kevin Wyatt, a member of the Teignbridge Hackney and Private Hire Association, said all vehicles should be suitable to carry four passengers and all saloon cars must have four doors.

He said the Ferrari did not comply and he pointed out that the vehicle was eight years old.

Granting the applications with conditions, the committee chairman Cllr Mike Walters said a smaller licensing plate should be displayed on the outside of the Ferrari and it must have a six monthly inspection.