FULL steam ahead!An industrious Suffolk driver is today enjoying life behind the wheel after passing her driving test - on a steamroller.While most 22-year-olds dream of owning fast, sporty numbers, Donna Taylor's idea of cool is a slow, mean, rolling machine.

FULL steam ahead!

An industrious Suffolk driver is today enjoying life behind the wheel after passing her driving test - on a steamroller.

While most 22-year-olds dream of owning fast, sporty numbers, Donna Taylor's idea of cool is a slow, mean, rolling machine.

Miss Taylor passed the unusual test in Wattisham on Tuesday on a 1920s vehicle.

She said: "It's been a hobby of mine for years now and I thought it was about time I got rid of the L-plates.

"I got a few funny looks as I was doing it. People drive past, look up and you can tell they are wondering what a girl is doing up there.

"Driving industrial vehicles runs in the family.

"After I was born my parents took me straight from hospital to the Eye show - it's what I've been brought up with."

Miss Taylor, of Gislingham, near Eye, works at a bakery in Wickham Market when she isn't behind the wheel.

"I've been interested in steam engines for as long as I remember and I got more into rollers when I met my partner about seven years ago."

Donna already has her car licence, but said she couldn't compare her experience of the driving test with her steam roller test.

"It took a long time to get good enough for the test," she said.

"I was a bit apprehensive but I was more nervous when I took my car driving test.

"There's not much theory to this test."

After answering some safety questions, it was then down to Donna to demonstrate her practical skills.

"I had to drive through the village, do turns, reverse round a corner and do an emergency stop.

"I know another woman in Suffolk who did the test off-road but as far as I know there's no-one else to have done it on the roads like me."

Chris Lee, a spokesman for the Driving Standards Agency, said: "The test Miss Taylor took is called the Road Roller Category G Test for Specialist Vehicles.

"We don't have exact figures but it's certainly unusual - especially for someone of her age.

"You have to be 21 years old to take the test and we pass about 100 people on the category G certificate each year."

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