THEY are Hollywood stars and are the driving force in some of the biggest film blockbusters.

But they never get a mention on the movie posters or in the opening credits.

Were they actors, they would have every right to be miffed -- but these 'stars' of the silver screen are taxi cabs and American movie moguls can't get enough of them.

But they're not traditional British black cabs -- they're American and one of the vehicles supplied by Salop Street Garage, Bolton, was recently sent to London for the premiere of the Tom Cruise blockbuster Collateral.

The taxi was delivered to the Dorchester where it was made up to look like a Los Angeles cab before driving Tom to the Odeon for the premiere. Cruise was pictured outside the famous cinema, sitting on the bonnet of the car.

But the taxis have also been used in films themselves. A staggering 22 have been supplied for the Batman film currently in production and some were used for the remake of Alfie, starring Jude Law and filmed in Manchester earlier this year.

A further batch are in Dublin where filming for The Honeymoon is underway.

Ray Tomkinson, the 57-year-old owner of Salop Street Garage, said: "I've been running this business since 1958 but in the last 20 years we've been supplying cars for films. The last year has been amazing. We've been doing some great business."

Mr Tomkinson sources many of his cars from their country of origin. When Batman producers asked for New York yellow cabs, he handed over the six he already had and put in an order with a New York firm for 16 more.

"Most of them will be smashed up," Mr Tomkinson said. "But that's the nature of the game."

He said American producers were using Britain and British firms more frequently because the government gave them grants and tax incentives to do so.

"It was great to see Tom Cruise with one of our cars," he said.