MP Andrew Murrison has slammed bureaucrats in Brussels for forcing the closure of the driving test centre in Trowbridge.

In a reply to Mr Murrison's Written Parliamentary Question on driving test centre closures, roads minister Jim Fitzpatrick said the move was to "facilitate the introduction of new European requirements for practical tests".

The Minister added: "Regrettably this does mean that some existing test centres have to close.

The answer records 20 test centre closures since 1997, 12 relocated and that another 26 are now earmarked for closure, including Trowbridge.

Mr Murrison said: "Once again we're invited to pay a heavy price to satisfy the insatiable demands of the European Commission.

"We've reached a sorry pass when we can't even control the way we examine learner drivers.

"Ironically, Britain's road traffic accident record compares favourably with our European neighbours and suggests we have no need to take lessons from the clip board bureaucrats of Brussels."