From correspondents in London, England, 12:30 AM IST

Troubled British rocker Pete Doherty has struck up an unusual deal with his local taxi firm - exchanging his paintings for cab rides.

Doherty has been using a private firm to get to concerts and airports since the past year but hasn't had ready cash to pay the fare. The firm's boss Justin Cook, however, suggested that the aspiring artist could pay with his 'increasingly collectable' art pieces, reports dailymail.co.uk.

"I have come to realise that Pete is brilliantly talented. The composition of his paintings is brilliant and he himself is a very generous and warm-hearted person," Cook said.

"I am quite happy for him to pay me in paintings because I know they will be increasingly collectable," he added.

He currently has five of the singer's works and hopes to collect more.

Doherty caused controversy July this year when he submitted one of his paintings, done in his own blood, to a children's charity art show. Limited edition prints signed in his blood have sold for up to 2,500 pounds.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)