NEW figures show Nelson test centre boasts the best practical driving test pass rate in East Lancashire, with Blackburn with Darwen lagging behind.

For the financial year of 2016/17, Nelson test centre recorded a pass rate of 53.7 per cent, more than 10 per cent higher than the Blackburn with Darwen centre, which had a 41.8 per cent pass rate.

Meanwhile the centre in Chorley had a pass rate of 53.4 per cent from the 4,816 people who attempted the test at the centre.

The figures, released by the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), show in all three test centres men have a higher pass rate than women.

In comparison the national pass rate is 47.1 per cent overall, 50.6 per cent for men and 43.9 per cent for woman

The Nelson test centre saw 3,103 drivers pass out of 5,780, a pass percentage increase from 46.7 per cent the previous year, and 45.5 per cent in 2014/2015.

Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson said: “I think this is very encouraging and great news for the area.

“It shows the hard work of local driving instructors in getting people young and old ready for their tests.

“With a new driving test being introduced I think we all need to ensure that drivers are well prepared for the challenges they face on the road and stay as safe as possible.

“Hopefully the figures will continue to improve.”

The Cobden Street centre saw 59.4 per cent of men pass last year, in comparison to 48.3 per cent of women.

Plans have been approved for a new testing centre in Nelson at Pendle Business Centre in Commercial Road after the DVSA said in August 2016 its home in Cobden Street was ‘no longer suitable’

At the Blackburn with Darwen test centre in Commercial Road, 3,599 out of 8,615 tests were passed, a small increase on the 40.3 per cent pass rate the previous year, but down on the 44.1 per cent pass percentage in 2014/15

Just 37.4 per cent of tests for women in the area were passes last year, compared to 46.7 per cent for men.

For the Chorley centre in Rossall Road, 2,572 of the tests resulted in passes and the 53.4 per cent pass rate was slightly down on the previous figures for the past two years of 54 per cent and 54.6 per cent.

Although the gap was smaller, men still boasted the better test success rate compared to women.

, with 55.5 per cent compared to 51.4 per cent.

For all of the centres across the past three financial years, men had a higher pass rate than women.