Learner drivers could face weeks of delay before going solo following today's closure of the Marston Road Driving Test Centre in Oxford, writes Phl Clee.

From Monday, tests will be tranfered to the other centre in James Wolfe Road, Cowley. It will be well into the New Year before nervous pupils finally find themselves sitting beside an examiner.

The lengthy delays have infuriated driving school instructors, who claim the Cowley centre will be unable to cope with the extra demand.

And they say it will be more expensive for pupils who will have to keep taking lessons to boost their chances of success.

The switch comes after the former Government buildings on the Marston Road site were sold. The site is due to be taken over by the Oxford Brookes University.

The Driving Standards Agency had expected to be able to remain there until the end of March next year. But they are confident that customer service in Oxford will not suffer as a result of the move.

Area manager Bob Jarvis said: "The agency has made considerable effort to find a suitable replacement site in Oxford, but this has proved particularly difficult. While the closure of Marston Road is regretted, the DSA is totally committed to retaining a driving test centre in Oxford."

Instructor Christopher Smith, of the Oxford School of Motoring, added: "I think it's going to create a great backlog of pupils.

"For the test we have to practise reversing into a parking space, but its a very narrow compound at Cowley. Where else can we go supermarket car parks?"