DRIVING school bosses in the region hit out last night over excessive waiting times learner motorists face before sitting their tests.

Latest figures show that the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is nowhere near meeting its national average target of a six-week wait for learners to take their tests. In the North-East and North Yorkshire, they must wait an average of 9.7 weeks.

BSM, one of the country's biggest driving schools, said the DSA's failings were "putt-ing people's lives on hold" as many needed cars for jobs, or to go to college or university.

In Middlesbrough, candidates face a 13-week wait, with learners in Darlington getting tests ten weeks after applying for them.

In Durham, the wait is 13 weeks, while York candidates face a ten-week delay. The wait in Harrogate is also 13 weeks.

Londoners are suffering worst, with the average wait for learners in the capital presently standing at 14 weeks. Scottish applicants come off best, with an average wait of just 4.7 weeks.

BSM chiefs said urgent action had to be taken to combat the problem.

Managing director Paul Atkinson said: "The DSA voluntarily surrendered its Charter Mark last year because its performance was nowhere near up to scratch, and the service it offers learners is still disappointingly poor.

"The situation in many parts of the UK remains a disgrace, with candidates unable to expect a date earlier than three or four months ahead."

A DSA spokeswoman admitted that the delays were unacceptable, but said the agency was taking action to deal with the problems, including recruiting more than 200 new examiners.