Girl, 18, becomes Britain’s youngest bus driver – and she passed with flying colours

TEENAGER Ellie Rose Houghton has become one of Britain’s youngest female bus drivers having just passed gruelling practical and theory tests.

The 18-year-old is now behind the wheel of an entire fleet of private coaches named after her.

Hull-based Ellie passed her 90-minute practical test with just four minor faults.

In total, Ellie successfully passed three practical, two theory and one showcase exam over eight weeks of summer to get her licence.

Having started racing stock cars at the age of 13, Ellie had vowed never to join her granddad’s private fleet firm – despite it being named after her.

But after his passing in 2012, she decided to join the family business in his honour.

Ellie said: “After finishing my A-levels, I knew I wanted to work in business, but I knew I didn’t want to go to university.

“I was really elated and over the moon to finally pass my bus test.

“The 90-minute practical felt like the longest time in my entire life – it felt like an entire day.

“Just hours after passing my final exams, I was out there ferrying kids home from school.

“It was strange actually driving the older kids because some of the kids were saying ‘look at her, I look older than her’.

“I was very scared of that, so I made my dad come with me.”

Shane, Ellie’s dad who also passed his test at 18 and is now Director of Ellie Rose Travel, said: “It’s great Ellie will be driving buses for us – we are all delighted.

“I remember one time when Ellie was about three years old and was being looked after in the office by my mum and when Ellie was asked her name by a customer she replied ‘Ellie Rose Travel’.”