Ex-Hibs striker hails a cab home - from London

CELTIC striker Anthony Stokes hailed a cab to get home from the players' Christmas bash - from London to West Lothian.

The player was reportedly exhausted after the party at London's Jet Black after-hours club with his teammates on Saturday night.

So, rather than wait to travel home with the rest of the team, the 22-year-old took a taxi back to his home in Broxburn, West Lothian, from the West End.

Stokes and the taxi driver agreed on an up-front fare of 600 for the mammoth drive.

On the meter it would have cost around 860.

The footballer could not be reached for comment, but a source reportedly said: "We've all been there, where you're dead beat after a night out and want nothing more than to get home to your own bed. Stokesy just decided he couldn't hang about any longer. And it's not as if he can't afford it. Everyone had a bit of a laugh about it, but Stokesy had the last laugh when the rest of the boys were left hanging about in London waiting to get home."

The Jet Black is one of London's most exclusive nightspots. It is a favourite among stars including Hollywood actress Lindsay Lohan and Calum Best.

Stokes began his career with Arsenal, but moved to Scotland to play for Falkirk in 2006. He then signed for Sunderland, but moved back to join Hibs in August 2009. Soon afterwards, he went to Celtic.