NORTH-EAST driving instructors are threatening to stage a mass protest after being told they must sit new road safety tests.

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is to make every approved instructor in the country sit a hazard perception test on a touch-screen computer this year.

Those who fail it three times will be removed from the Approved Driving Instructors' Register.

Alan Madrell, chairman of Darlington Driving Instructors' Federation, said: "It's a total insult to the driving instructor on the road. Surely our experience must count for something.

"Everybody wants road safety to be paramount, but this is unnecessary."

Mr Madrell, of Langley Park, County Durham, said he had the backing of every instructor in the region to stage a protest.

"The unrest over this is unbelievable. I'm seriously thinking of starting a campaign similar to the fuel protests.

"We would have a slow drive through a town in the area for a start, then a slow drive to London.

"If it means driving around Durham and Darlington with a slow convoy causing chaos, then so be it."

The Driving Instructors Association (DIA) said it had received hundreds of letters and emails from instructors, who feel betrayed by the DSA's plans.

DIA general manager Eddie Barnaville said: "It is an absolute disgrace. An exam certificate is not worth the paper it's printed on if you have to rip it up every time the Government moves the goal posts. Our members are professionals and deserve to be treated accordingly."

Tim Barnatt, from the DSA, said the test was being introduced to improve the quality of professional driver training services offered to the public.