STUDENTS will be offered free driving lessons if they enrol at Darlington College this September.

The college is re-investing commercial funds to pay for its new Driving Ambition programme.

The initiative will see every full time student aged between 16 and 18 given the opportunity to claim up to six driving lessons for free.

A spokeswoman for Darlington College said no public funds would be spent financing the lessons.

She went on to say that strict criteria would have to be met in order to maintain the college's "high quality achievement rates”.

She said: “The college feels passionate about driving employability and equipping students with skills for their future careers beyond the classroom.

“Darlington College have their learners at the heart of everything that they do and will be re-investing commercial funds, generated through third party lettings to support the initiative.”

Students will be eligible for the free lessons if they are enrolled and can claim three initial lessons if their attendance is 90 per cent or above at Christmas 2018.

They can claim a further three lessons if they have maintained the same, or similar, level of attendance by Easter 2019.

Students aged 16 will be entitled to apply for the lessons when they turn 17, with sessions only available with college approved driving instructors.

For more information, or to see Darlington College's full programme of courses, visit darlington.ac.uk.

Alternatively, call 01325 503030.

The college currently has a 'good' Ofsted rating.