Venida Crabtree with her new car and driving licence It took her more than three decades to pass her driving test and another four months to find a car she liked, but tomorrow Venida Crabtree will finally drive herself through the streets of Oxford.

The belly dancer, of Burgan Close, Cowley, gained worldwide fame in July when she finally passed her driving test after failing it almost 40 times and spending £27,000 on lessons.

After the Oxford Mail broke the story Mrs Crabtree appeared in almost every national newspaper, and on radio and television across the world.

Following her success Mrs Crabtree hoped to buy a sporty Suzuki jeep, but fearing it would have too much 'oomph', she then looked at the less powerful Daewoo Lanos.

But her brother, a mechanic, discovered the particular car she had eyed up had problems.

But last week husband Ralph finally found a red Suzuki Alto which was to the 50-year-old's liking and she bought it at auction in Witney for £1,175.

Realising she finally owned her car after waiting 33 years was a very special moment for Mrs Crabtree.

She said: "When the hammer went down for the third time I did not know whether to scream or cry. It was almost like passing my test again.

"Then when I saw my car coming around the corner towards me I was so ecstatic, I have finally got a car!"

The car has just passed its MOT and Mrs Crabtree was set to take to the road today when she plans to take her 18-month old dog Wolf, who also loves motoring, down to the park for a walk.

Mrs Crabtree will be behind the wheel for one last time with Roger Cohen, the instructor she had for 17 years, to complete a motorway driving course.

She even plans to go rally driving and take a spin round Silverstone in a Formula Ford racing car.

The part-time masseuse and clairvoyant said she did not mind her fame.

She said: "I had a story to tell and I am sure there are other people out there who are going through what I went through.

"It was nice to have the opportunity to encourage them not to give up.

"Children come up to me and say: 'Were you the lady who passed her driving test?' I tell them: 'If when you are growing up you fail things a few times, don't give up, because you can get there if you persevere."

Next month, Mrs Crabtree and her husband Ralph are being whisked away to Cologne to appear on a New Year's Eve programme on German television about the year's most inspirational people.