Caring cabbie Don Pratt, who was left a £250,000 tip after one of his customers passed away, has launched a drive to find the ‘UK’s Most Pukka Black Cabbie’.

The father-of-four has been snapped up by car care expert Turtle Wax to lead and judge its national search for the UK’s top black cabbie.

Don made headlines across the world this month after he was left the significant sum of money in pensioner Mary Watson’s will. He had spent two decades driving Mary to and from her local shops and when she died, aged 86, she left Don her whole estate which included her house and savings, together worth more than £250,000.

Speaking at the launch of the search Don, 65, from Newquay, said: “Being a good cabbie is much more than simply ferrying passengers from A to B; in any one day you can be called upon to be a counsellor, a critic and a confidant.

“Treating customers and other drivers on the road with courtesy and respect certainly paid off for me! I am delighted that at last there will be some recognition for the great work carried out by cabbies across the UK everyday.”

Turtle Wax is calling for people to nominate black cab drivers who are prepared to go the extra mile for their customers and who take absolute pride in their cab, inside and out.

Andrew Freeman from Turtle Wax, said: “Who better to launch our search than Don Pratt, who personifies what it means to be a good cabbie. He knows how difficult and demanding the job can be and will be a perfect judge. We think of him as the Simon Cowell of taxi drivers - he speaks and we listen.

“The UK is famous for its black cabs. They provide a great service to millions of people across the country, but it’s not an easy job. Cabbies need to be patient, helpful, calm and have ‘The Knowledge’!

“We want to find the most pukka and deserving ‘Black Cabbie’ in the UK that has all of these attributes, making the industry and the UK proud.”

Entries for the competition will be judged by Don Pratt and representatives from Turtle Wax. The winner will receive £2,000 worth of modifications to their cab, a short city break worth £500 and a year’s supply of Turtle Wax Black Box. Two runners up will also receive £250 worth of holiday vouchers, as well as a year’s supply of Black Box.

Don added: “I know the standard of entries will be extremely high and I am looking forward to helping decide who will be crowned the UK’s Most Pukka Black Cabbie.”

To nominate your cabbie all you need to do is go to www.turtlewaxblackbox.co.uk/mostpukkablackcabbie and follow the instructions.

The closing date for entries is Monday July 26th, 2010 and the winner will be notified on Monday August 2nd, 2010. Terms and conditions apply.

For more information on Turtle Wax/Black Box and for full terms and conditions please visit www.turtlewaxuk.com.