A DRIVING instructor is looking to pass her 200th student before she steps back from the steering wheel.

Leah Lister of Leah Lister's Learners has been running a driving school for seven years now. 

She is looking to retire but is hoping to get her 200th student through their driving test this week. 

Leah's driving school is based in Cockermouth and has been operating since 2017. 

Ms Lister said: "The job has been really interesting, meeting many people from different walks of life. It has been a real privilege to help people achieve a life skill.

"Living in such a rural part of the country being able to drive is virtually essential around here.

"I have taken siblings from many local families and was very challenging when had two sets of twins training at the same time. Thankfully they achieved a first-time pass.

"My first-time pass rate is above 70 per cent, the national average is about 51 per cent. I attribute the high first-time pass rate to being patient, putting the hard work in, and making sure the pupil is ready to take the test."

She added that in her role she has also worked with charity groups, including Minute For Miles, a local group that helps refugees pass their driving test, and she is also an observer for the Institute of Advanced Driving, a voluntary organisation that helps fully qualified drivers improve their road skills. 

"Over the years I have helped people of all ages pass their test or provided the skills needed to become a more confident driver," she said.

"Closer to home I have taken my daughter and son through tests and my nephew too. It was a struggle during Covid and there is still a backlog today from those years where tests are hard to come by.

"It will be exciting to know I have trained over 200 people and got them through tests. It is now time to take some time for myself."

However, she said she won’t be resting on her laurels, having just signed up to run the Great North Run in aid of the brain tumour charity.