It's typical. You wait for one taxi firm merger and then two come along at once. An East Devon taxi firm that grew from a Honiton tearoom, has completed its second acquistion in four months.

Honiton-based Horseshoe Taxis, founded and owned by Sheila and John Huffer, has seen Dunkeswell-based Blackwell Cars join its fleet.

The company also took on the business of local firm K-Cars in 2010, following the retirement of its proprietor, Ken Arber, who now works part time for the business. Blackwell's owner Simon Smith has also now joined its team as its operations manager.

Horseshoe now comprises eight cars and eight drivers, with Mrs Huffer overseeing the day-to-day running of the business.

The firm is named after the Huffer's former cafe, from which they initially began their licensed transport trade.

Mrs Huffer said: "We used to have lots of ladies come in for a cup of tea while they waited for taxis that wouldn't turn up. My father in law used to take pity on them and give them a lift home.

"We then licensed our two cars and the business grew from that. The taxi business had grown so much by 1988, that we sold the cafe to concentrate upon it."

The company's core business is within the Honiton and Ottery St Mary area, but has undertaken runs as far north as Cumbria.

It also provides an estate car service for executive London runs, which cost around £280 for the return trip – around the same fare to the capital as first class by rush-hour train.