A GREAT-grandad from East Lancashire has proved he's still as sharp as ever behind the wheel - by passing his advanced driving test at the ripe old age of 80!

Bob Baldwin, of Burnley, has been motoring for 60 years - but recently decided to enrol on advanced driving courses to check his skills still matched those of trained police drivers.

And Bob, who uses his two-litre Hyundai Sonata to take wife Margaret shopping, has passed his advanced driving test twice in the last six months in a bid to ensure he's still a safe motorist.

He said: "As people get older, they seem to slow down a bit, and I wanted to make sure that was not happening to me. I'm very active, but I wanted to be sure I was still up to driving safely.

Bob, of Raeburn Avenue, Rosehill, said: "I did take an advanced driving test with the police back in the 1950s and I passed it all right then. I even worked briefly as wagon driver after the war.

"But at 80, I thought it was time to prove to myself that I was safe on the roads. The courses help you learn how to avoid accidents, even ones that aren't your own fault." Former navy commando and Coal Board engineer Bob gained a gold star award after enrolling on a "better driving" course with the Blackburn Area Road Safety Association (BARSA) last summer.

And this week he passed another advanced driving test - after taking a course with the East Lancashire branch of the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM).

Advanced driving tests, which are examined by Class One police drivers, last about 90 minutes. They involve driving about 35 miles through many different road conditions. Drivers must learn to leave bad motoring habits behind as they adopt a safer, smoother driving style.

Bob says his wife Margaret, 81, is pleased with his progress. "I think she's pretty happy, because she doesn't drive and she always wants to go out," he joked.

To find out about advanced motoring courses in your area, call Jack Howorth from the East Lancashire branch of the IAM on 01282 434631, or Ross Heron from BARSA on 01204 852605.

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