Alex Hird, 18, decided to start work as a driver for Atlas Private Hire in St Thomas Street to raise cash to see him through his degree at Nottingham University.

Mr Hird, who is currently in his first year of a maths degree course spent more than two years working part-time as an operator for Atlas before deciding to get behind the wheel for the
company.

He said: "University is quite an expensive place so I'm doing it for a bit of extra cash.

"I just decided that it would be quite nice to see the other side of the job."

Mr Hird, who spent his first night as a taxi driver last weekend said he had come as a surprise to customers.

He said: "From what I've done so far its been really good. I had quite a lot of positive feedback from customers, though my first customer last night got a bit worried – he didn't think I was old enough to drive."

The former Scarborough College student has completed advanced driver training and said his young age only made him more safe on the roads.

He said: "I can't drive too fast as I have been driving for less than two years and if I was to get more than six points I would be disqualified.

"My mates at uni try to use it as a bit of a claim to fame, that they are living with probably the youngest taxi driver in the country."

Atlas Private Hire manager Tracey Fordyce said she persuaded Mr Hird to
swap jobs when the firm became short of night drivers.

Mr Hird will be working at the taxi firm during his university holidays and some weekends.