The Driving Standards Authority confirmed today that Oxfordshire's motorcycle test centres will remain open for an extra six months.

Test centres in Oxford and Banbury had been scheduled to close on September 29, following the introduction of new testing procedures.

However, the authority has now said it is delaying the introduction of the new test — which involves off-road riding making those existing sites unsuitable — and plans to keep the centres open until March 30, 2009.

It said it also aims to find alternative testing locations in this time, to prevent learner riders from having to travel to Newbury and Swindon for tests.