Inverclyde has the second highest rate of dangerous drivers in the UK

New information from the DVLA shows the district is just one place off the top of the league table for disqualified drivers.

One in 20 local drivers, or 5.35 per cent, have been disqualified, which is second only to Orkney with one in 10.

The statistics were obtained through Freedom of Information laws.

The number of disqualified drivers in the area has jumped from 59 in 2014 to 135 in 2017.

The main reasons cited for bans were speeding or drink driving.

But many motorists are also being penalised for other offences such as careless driving, where they are judged to be lacking awareness and attention for other road users.

Local driving instructor Billy Monkhouse says he is shocked by the figures.

Mr Monkhouse, who has been an instructor for 14 years, said: "An accident or a near miss can bring these drivers back on the straight and narrow.

"I would like to have seen if there were differences in the age groups and categories.

"I would think an older person could be disqualified for drink or drugs whereas with younger people it's often their inexperience.

"There are risk factors - even taking cough medicine can make you drowsy or if you're out at Word Up at 2am in the morning don't get in the car and go out at 11am because you will still be over the limit."

The statistics were obtained by contact lens retailer Feel Good Contacts, with rankings calculated using the percentage of disqualified drivers in each area versus the number of people who had successfully passed their test using official DVLA data.