A student made a week-long, 1,000-mile round trip to Scotland to take her driving test - because she couldn't get a slot in her local area.

Emily Doyle, 22, travelled to Aberdeen with mum Audrey Doyle, 50, from their home in Windsor, Berks, late last month.

Emily, who is studying musical theatre, claims she had been trying to book a test locally since she passed her theory in April.

But she could not find a place, she says - so decided to look elsewhere.

Mum Audrey is from Aberdeen so the pair settled on on the Scottish city and travelled up late last month.

Emily took her test on October 26 and passed with just six minors.

And she said: "I'm really relieved I passed. The first thing I did was drive up to university.

"I think that it paid off. I could have been waiting a year or more for a test near home.

"I think that it was worth it - but it was a lot of planning and time."

Mum Audrey, an executive assistant, added: “I think it's very extreme what we did, but needs must. There was no alternative.

“We have been trying to get a test since April and we couldn't even get a booking or secure a date.

“We've been on the [booking] site when it opens at 6am and Emily bought an app to book cancelled tests.

"But we’ve never been able to secure a date even six months to a year ahead.

“You just can't secure the dates. It’s very frustrating and very extreme - but Emily was determined to take her test.”

The Scotland trip - from October 22 to 29 - cost the family more than £150 in fuel, and was not without event.

After a stop in Edinburgh, they found the main road to Aberdeen closed due to flooding because of Storm Babet – so took a longer detour using backroads.

And they’d even already decided that if Emily’s first attempt was unsuccessful, they’d make the drive again during the Christmas holidays.

Despite the good outcome, they say they never should have had to make the journey – and say the ordeal left them stressed and frustrated.

Audrey said: “We’re relieved now she’s passed – she can drive to school, it's going to be massively helpful, so we're really pleased.

“It feels great now that success has been achieved but I underestimated how stressful it would be.

“We go up to Scotland quite regularly but not to sit tests, when she got there she was really stressed because she didn’t know the roads.

“It also became increasingly difficult because of Storm Babet which happened days before we left, so the major road to Aberdeen was actually shut.

“She passed but because of the weather it just rained non-stop there, it was absolutely freezing and very challenging.”

Emily said: "I found it quite different to near home - there were less cars on the road which was nice but its unfamiliar surroundings so it took a little while to adjust.

"I practised for a couple of days before but it was a lot to try and adapt to quickly.

"There's such a long wait list and its better to do it in a place your familiar with to take some of the pressure away and because it's where I'll be driving now I've passed."

A spokesperson for the Drive and Vehicle Standards Agency said: "We are taking all the measures we can to reduce driving test waiting times.

"The work we've been doing to date, along with our examiner recruitment, is already creating over 40,000 extra tests every month.

“We strongly urge learners only to book their driving test when they are ready to pass.”