Teresa Clarke, of Wroxham, Norfolk, went through 20 driving instructors, spent £15,000 in fees and had 450 hours of tuition.

She also failed 12 tests, cancelled a further 35 and had 50 mock exams.

Now, following her latest effort to ditch her L-plates, on June 26, she is free to get behind the wheel of a car.

"It took a long time for it to sink in when I was told I had passed .I kissed the woman examiner "said Mrs Clarke.

Mrs Clarke, who has yet to purchase a car of her own, puts her success down to an improved focus.

"My concentration is much better now - I don't drink coffee or tea anymore and have no additives," she said.

She said she tried not to think about how much time and money she spent on learning to drive.

"It was over so many years that I was able to spread out the money," she said.

"I've been through a lot of driving instructors because some of them kicked me out. But I was determined to pass and kept going."