POTENTIAL bus drivers had the chance to get behind the wheel of the real thing at a recruitment day.

Public transport group Go Northern held an open day at Beamish Museum, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham, yesterday.

Dozens of interested jobseekers spoke to existing drivers and were allowed to take a bus for a test drive around the attraction's coach park.

A Go Northern spokesman said: "It gives candidates the chance to try before they buy.

"There are not many jobs where you can try it out in this way before signing on."

Would-be drivers were given a choice of test-driving a training coach, a double-decker or one of three service buses.

It is part of a campaign by the firm to recruit more drivers at its County Durham depots.