An Oxford driving instructor is to star in a prime-time reality television show aimed at turning some of the country's worst drivers into top motorists.

Laurie-Jane Taylor, from Greater Leys, is one of three instructors featured in ITV's new two-hour show Last Chance Driving School.

The programme takes 10 terrible drivers - who between them have failed 55 tests and spent £50,000 on lessons - and tries to get them fully qualified in five days. Miss Taylor said: "It was fantastic, it was brilliant. It was hard work though and very intensive. I did end up crying after one of the tests when they passed because it was so emotional.

"The worst candidate had failed 15 tests.

"They did not actually know they only had one week. When they started they had no idea their tests would be in five days' time."

The mum-of-one, from Plover Drive, was picked for the show because she works for driving academy a2om. The firm claims to use ground-breaking techniques, including brain training software and psychometric testing, to secure high pass rates.

Miss Taylor, who claims to have a 75 per cent success rate, said: "We are the Oxbridge of driving schools, relatively new but completely different to anything that exists. We have recognised that it's attitudes and beliefs that need to be challenged rather than just teaching someone how to drive."

The 33-year-old filmed the one-off show in Bedfordshire over two weeks this summer.

Although she cannot reveal how many of the 10 candidates passed their tests at the end of the show, Miss Taylor said the experiment was successful - with a few twists and turns along the way. Trained drugs counsellor Miss Taylor, who used to work at the Ley Community rehabilitation unit in Yarnton, said she was surprised at how many similarities there were between her two careers.

She said: "I have always been interested in what makes people tick and that proved to be beneficial. I have always believed that anyone can learn to drive a car. The brain of a 17- to 25-year-old has not fully developed yet. We use brain training techniques to help develop that."

Gary Austin, a2om's managing director and a former chief executive of the UK's Driving Standards Agency, said: "This is the UK's first driving instruction programme which exceeds the requirements of the driving test by placing the emphasis on teaching safer driving."

Last Chance Driving School is due to be broadcast on Wednesday at 9pm on ITV1.