Twins pass the test

4:20pm Friday 23rd May 2008

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TWINS from Trowbridge passed their driving test on the same day after learning with the same instructor.

Emma and Lucy Tomes, 17, from Broadmead in Trowbridge, both passed after taking their driving tests at Trowbridge Test Centre in Wiltshire Drive on May 12.

Emma passed at 9.30am in the morning, putting the pressure on her sister Lucy who took her test at 2.30pm.

Although she felt the pressure it was their driving instructor Paul Thomas who felt most stressed.

Mr Thomas, who runs Trowbridge driving school P&Js School of Motoring, said: "When Emma passed in the morning I really felt the crunch as I didn't know what I would do if the other twin failed.

"I was confident in them both but you never know what's going to happen.

When I drove Lucy to the test centre, the examiner who took Emma spotted us and asked why we were back. I had to explain that they were twins, even though they're not identical."

Their mother Sam Tomes also fell victim to nerves.

She said: "Lucy is always very confident and Emma is less so and it would have been a bit difficult if one had passed and not the other.

"Paul was a fantastic teacher, making the lessons fun and getting them through in five months."

Emma and Lucy are both sixth formers at John of Gaunt School in Trowbridge, where their mum works.

Emma is studying art, business studies, psychology and ICT and Lucy is studying maths, business studies, psychology and ICT.

They both wanted to say thank you to their father Terry Tomes who helped to pay for the lessons and test as a joint birthday and Christmas present.

Mr Thomas added: "Both twins were fantastic and willing to learn.

"They both passed at Trowbridge Test Centre. If the planned closure of Trowbridge goes ahead and the twins had not yet passed they would have had to go to Chippenham instead.

"That would have more than doubled the cost of taking the test for them both and the financial strain on the family would have been large.

"Closing the Trowbridge centre is ridiculous. I'm a member of the Wessex Association of Driving Instructors and we are all against the plans because of the cost implications to future students."