A DRIVING test centre threatened with closure has been given a stay of execution after hundreds of people backed a campaign to save it.

Clacton’s test centre was due to close in June, but has been given a six-month reprieve by the Driving Standards Agency.

It was feared the closure would lead to Colchester’s roads becoming busier, with more tests being taken there instead.

Driving instructors were told the good news after staging a “Road to L” go-slow protest around Clacton.

Spokeswoman Julie Hartigan said: “We’ve got a six-month extension, which is what we wanted, and potentially a new test centre in Clacton after that. It’s brilliant.”

More than 30 cars from the town’s driving schools joined yesterday’s protest.

Instructors had threatened to bring the town to a standstill by forming a 10mph convoy.

Plans to take the protest to Colchester were called off after news of the reprieve.

Mrs Hartigan was delighted with the turnout. She said: “It was so successful. To get 31 cars out in a small town like Clacton is fantastic.”

Clacton MP Douglas Carswell said keeping the test centre open was a victory for learner drivers and would safeguard local jobs.

He said: “People are always asking me what they can do to help young people.

“Making sure it isn’t difficult for them to learn to drive is a good start.

“I met the head of the Driving Standards Agency last week and I think bosses are serious about trying to find an alternative site for the test centre.”

Mr Carswell said Tendring Council and its regeneration company, Intend, had been “incredibly supportive” during the campaign. More than 1,000 people signed petitions calling for the test centre to be saved.

The agency says it will now try to find the centre a new home.

Stephen Small, agency spokesman, said: “We have had a site meeting with the local council and passed on our specifications to developers. We have asked them to come up with proposals within Clacton for a new centre.

“If the need arises, we will be asking to extend or hold over the lease on the current site, which finishes in June.”