FORMER road safety officer Arthur Brown has been fighting a two-year battle to get back behind the wheel after his driving licence was taken away following eye problems.

Pensioner Mr Brown says the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) is driving him round the bend by refusing to return the licence, even though he believes his eyesight is "near perfect".

The DVLA took his licence away in 1998 after the 81-year-old was diagnosed with glaucoma, which affects his eyesight.

Mr Brown, a widower, of Church Road, Tylers Green, says the car was his "lifeline" to the outside world and he believes the eye test which led to his licence being revoked was unfair.

He said: "I did not really know what they expected me to do and don't think they were given the right picture of how good my vision is.

"I drove for 62 years and I had no problems. I can see traffic lights in the distance, I can easily read number plates, I have even offered to do another test but they just keep stalling.

"This is the time in my life where I need the car to get around. I have recently lost my wife and can't get anywhere without organising for someone to take me."

Mr Brown has had several tests since his eye condition was stabilised through medication, and says his eyesight is fine.

Chris Jones, spokesman for the DVLA, said that the managers involved were not willing to comment on his case.

However, both Earl Howe and Dominic Grieve, MP for Beaconsfield, have written to the DVLA on Mr Brown's behalf.

A letter from the DVLA medical adviser to Earl Howe said "while I understand the frustration caused by the loss of the driving licence, medical information presented to the DVLA has indicated consistently that Mr Brown's visual field cannot satisfy the current standard".