Learner driver Peter Giles turned up for his driving test to find it had been cancelled because of industrial action by examiners.

The 17-year-old from Eynsham, pictured, arrived at the Banbury centre to take his driving test just before 3.30pm on February 24, only to be told his examiner would not be coming.

He said: "I was a bit nervous about taking my test and went for a three-hour lesson before, which cost £60.

"When I arrived, two girls were taken off by examiners. Ten minutes later, someone told me the examiner who should have been taking me wouldn't be coming."

Up to three tests per examiner per day could be cancelled after a work-to-rule action was introduced by the Public and Commercial Service union on February 24.

The Driving Standards Agency, which runs centres in Banbury and Cowley, Oxford, told the Mail there was nothing it could -- because examiners were not notifying it of cancellations until the last minute.

Spokesman Chris Lee advised anyone expecting to take a test to turn up on time, but warned the problem was likely to worsen as industrial action continued.

Examiners are refusing to drive more than 45 minutes to centres to conduct tests, a guideline set out in their contracts.

Peter, who attends Marlborough School in Woodstock, said: "I had been psyching myself up all morning and was very disappointed. Surely they knew this examiner wasn't coming?"

Mrs Giles, who co-owns Wasties Motors in Eynsham, said she was "livid".

The DSA has arranged for Peter to take his test on March 9 at the Cowley centre, but Mrs Giles said: "His driving instructor can't make that day so it means he's got to do it in his own car, and he's got to have extra lessons at £20 to get used to it."

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