A GRANDMOTHER of 17 children has proved it's never too late to learn after passing her driving test for the first time.

Gwen Turner, 56, of Rise Carr, Darlington, delayed taking driving lessons after serious illness, but passed her test at the first attempt on March 21.

She said: "I hugged the examiner when she told me I'd passed. I'm just coming down off the ceiling now."

Mrs Turner delayed learning to drive after suffering a stroke in her early forties, which took her some time to recover from, and knocked her confidence.

But after renewing her provisional driving licence last summer, she began taking lessons again in August last year and was up to driving test standard after about 30 lessons.

Her driving instructor, Ken Monkman, said: "It was a real buzz to get her through her test. She did well - she set herself a goal and achieved it."

Mrs Turner's husband also took her out for extra driving practice in their Seat car. She said: "I'm quite a confident driver, and he was always saying to me 'slow down, it's not a race'."

She added: "I would advise anyone my age having trouble getting around to learn to drive. It lets you go out without relying on anyone, and gives you a lot more independence."

Three out of her four children have a driving licence, and her oldest grandchild is in the process of learning to drive.

Only 43 per cent of learners pass at the first attempt.