BOLTON'S fleet of Kiddy Cabs, which have been a smash hit since they were introduced last year, are now a splash hit too.

The brightly coloured cabs, which are hired from the Market Place shopping centre, were OK for mums and dads to push around in the shelter of the the Market Place and Market Hall.

But they found that their tots were getting a soaking when they pushed them around the town centre on rainy days. So now, the fleet has been updated, with covered windows instead of open apertures, to keep out the weather.

Jon and Lisa Elliott, who run the Kiddy Cabs business next to the escalator in the Market Place, turned to Bolton tarpaulin company D Haynes Ltd of Hanover Street -- more used to making covers for juggernauts -- who designed and made the bubble covers to keep the little "drivers" dry.

The cars have been praised by the town's marketing bosses for attracting shoppers to Bolton.

People from neighbouring towns say they make a point of shopping in Bolton so that can take their young ones round in one of the mini cars.

And since the Bolton trial started, several other North-west towns have copied the idea.

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