Pensioner, 80, gets behind wheel

She may be partially blind and celebrating her 80th birthday. But that wasn't going to stop plucky pensioner Doris Nardone from fulfilling her lifelong ambition of driving a car.

The grandmother-of-four took to the wheel for first time after dreaming of driving since she was a child.

Two of her four children, Sue Braithwaite, aged 44, and Jo Woolley, aged 38, organised the surprise driving lesson as a present for her 80th birthday yesterday.

Daring Doris took a spin around the National Express bus driver training ground in Park Lane, Wolverhampton, after the 200 double and single deck buses which are usually parked at the site, were moved. Doris, of Allens Lane, Pelsall, Walsall, broke down in tears of joy as she stepped out of the car.

"I've always dreamed of driving but never had the chance," she said. "It was absolutely amazing, I felt so free."

She put pedal to metal with help from Ian Tipton, of Wednesfield's Drive With Ian driving school, in his dual control car, while her four grandchildren looked on.

Doris, whose plasterer husband Philip died in 1972, aged 40, began to lose her sight in the late 1970s. She is now completely blind in one eye and partially blind in the other, meaning she can only see rough outlines. She was almost unable to make her birthday driving lesson after fears she would spend the day having laser eye treatment in hospital.

Daughter Sue said: "We wanted to give mum a birthday present she would never forget but it was difficult because she's not materialistic.

"She has always talked about wanting to drive but it seemed like an impossible dream with her vision problems. We are so grateful to everyone who has helped make it become a reality."

National Express agreed to let Doris use their training ground after hearing how she regularly uses buses to travel around the Black Country unaided.