NICOLA Sturgeon has passed her driving test on her first attempt. 

Revealing the news on Instagram, the former first minister said the experience had taken her well out of her comfort zone. 

Posting a picture of herself with her driving instructor Andy, she said: "So this happened today - at the tender age of 53, I passed my driving test (first time!!).

"I couldn’t have done it without my brilliant instructor, Andy MacFarlane of Caledonian Learner Driver Training.

"It was really important to me, as a 53-year-old former FM, not just to have an excellent teacher but someone I could trust and feel comfortable with - Andy was all of that and more!

"The whole experience has taken me well out of any notion of a comfort zone, but hopefully proves that it’s never too late in life to do something new". 

Sturgeon began taking lessons after stepping down as first minister in February. 

She said her wish to drive came from a desire to achieve "a bit of personal freedom".