THE largest independent driving school and instructor training centre in the North-East plans to double in size.

Clearway, in Redcar, already has a fleet of 22 cars and 18 instructors working in the Cleveland area.

George Barnett, who founded the company more than five years ago, has revealed £20,000 plans to set up a second driving school and training centre in County Durham.

"As part of the company's expansion plans we are looking to cover an area from Darlington, through Durham and Bishop Auckland, and up to Gateshead," he said.

"We already have 18 instructors and four full-time members of staff and we would look to take on another 18 instructors and two more full-time members of staff.

Clearway has an annual turnover of about £200,000.

It teaches more than 1,000 pupils every year to pass their driving test and has trained 150 driving instructors.