RISING numbers of learner drivers are being caught trying to cheat their tests by hiring lookalikes, according to government figures.

More than 670 cases of impersonators sitting theory and practical exams have been reported so far in 2014 to 2015, more than a fifth higher than the previous financial year, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) said.

Andy Rice, the DVSA's head of fraud and integrity, said driving test fraud was putting "innocent road users at risk" and it had "stringent measures" to detect offences.

Figures published by the DVSA following a Freedom of Information request by The Times newspaper have revealed the number of "impersonation investigations" for each financial year over the last decade.

From April to the end of December 2014 there were 677 reported cases, compared with 554 for the whole of 2013 to 2014 and 628 in 2012 to 2013.

Your Worcester News contacted both the Worcester driving test centre and the DVSA but both declined to comment on whether any of the cases had taken place in Worcestershire.