A woman described as Britain’s worst driver after having lessons for nearly 15 years has finally passed her test - with a bit of help from her local paper.

Janine Mars, 31, spent thousands of pounds in her attempts to get a licence, and at one stage even thought she’d been barred by some Medway instructors due her slow progress when they did not return her calls.

Ms Mars, of Luton Road, Chatham, who is personal assistant on a construction site, admitted earlier this year she had failed her practical test four times and despite intensive instruction, she couldn’t pull away from a junction.

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In the years she’s been a learner, she has had at least five different instructors, who all took her down a dead-end in their attempts to help her get a full licence.

Ms Mars estimates she has spent about £6,000 on about 300 lessons and had put her epic failure record down to lack of confidence.

That is in contrast to her ebullient personality, which saw her appear on the popular TV dating programme Take Me Out.

“I just thought, oh my God I’ve passed. I can’t describe how excited I was, I am still buzzing from it" - Janine Mars

But behind the wheel she was a bag of nerves. Even the incentive of her mother Radha offering to help pay for a new car, did not do the trick.

However, thanks to KentOnline's sister paper the Medway Messenger, Ms Mars was put in touch with a driving expert.

Sandra Macdonald-Ames read about Janine’s plight and offered to help Janine reach her goal.

We put the pair in contact and they have been doing intensive driving lessons in Wales.

Mrs Macdonald-Ames, who is originally from Sittingbourne, but now lives in Brecon, said: “When the paper put us in touch Janine called me and we really hit it off.

“She came to Wales and spent several days with me and I took her back to basics, as its a confidence thing with Janine.

Video: Janine passes her test - Graham Stothard reports

“She took her test here about eight weeks ago, but she failed on just one thing – putting the car in the wrong gear going up a hill.

“I was determined she should have another crack at it and she came back on Sunday to take her test on Monday.

“We spent all day out in the car. She’d not driven for the eight week period, but on Monday she passed.

“I knew she had passed as soon as she got back as she was screaming and jumped out of the car to come over and hug me.

“I told her she needed to get back in the car and let her examiner finish the paperwork before celebrating.

“I knew she could do it, she was more than capable.”

Ms Mars, who kept her latest attempt secret, said: “I just thought, oh my God I’ve passed.

“I can’t describe how excited I was, I am still buzzing from it.

“I rang my mum while Sandra was driving on the way back from the test and put it on loud speaker. My mum was screaming too.

“I can’t thank the Medway Messenger enough for putting me in touch Sandra. She is a brilliant instructor and taught me to believe in myself and boosted my confidence.”