YOUNG drivers in Wrexham will benefit from the relaunch of a driver training scheme.

Pass Plus Cymru is aimed at tackling the high rates of young drivers and passengers killed and injured on Welsh roads.

And, thanks to a subsidy from the Welsh Assembly and sponsorship from Direct Line Insurance, a five-day course will cost just £40.

The course is open to anyone aged 17-25. Drivers over 25 who have recently passed their test will also be considered.

Pass Plus Cymru aims to provide young people with additional driving skills and experience to help reduce their chances of being involved in road traffic collisions.

The next course will take place at Johnstown Fire Station on Wednesday, August 16, and five more are planned to run throughout the year.

Of 130 drivers and passengers killed on Welsh roads last year, 59 were between the ages of 16 and 25, representing 45% of total deaths.

Research shows that these fatalities were mainly caused by simple driving errors made as a result of a lack of skills and experience and Pass Plus Cymru has been developed to combat this problem.

Pass Plus Cymru, developed by Road Safety Wales and managed by

MAC Driver Training, builds on the Driving Standard Agency's Pass Plus programme and includes a group interactive three-hour theory session and a day of intensive training.

Nearly 100 young people in the Wrexham area will have the opportunity to improve their driving skills during the first year of the scheme.

On completion of the course, attendees may also be eligible for a discount on their car insurance.

Sheila Humphreys-Jones, road safety officer for Wrexham, said: 'Pass Plus Cymru covers night-time and motorway driving plus many other aspects of driver safety that receive less emphasis at the learner driver stage.

'Young drivers are happy and confident behind the wheel but may lack awareness of how their decisions could affect themselves, their passengers and other road users.

'Our concern is to keep them out of hospital and able to enjoy life and to avoid the tragic consequences of a young driver's death. Pass Plus Cymru could provide the tools necessary to reverse the current trend.' nYoung people wishing to attend can book online at www.dragondriver.com. Information is available by calling 0845 0504255.