Oxford United's car park could double-up as a motorcycle test centre if plans are given the go-ahead.

Following an announcement in April that test centres in Banbury and Oxford are to close, the Driving Standards Agency said it had been unable to find a suitable site for a new centre in Oxfordshire.

However, we have learned the agency has now opened negotiations with Firoka - the company of former United chairman Firoz Kassam, which still owns the stadium - about the possibility of using its car park.

A DSA spokesman said: "We have been unable to find a suitable site to build a multi-purpose test centre in Oxfordshire, despite a four-year search.

"Ten sites have been assessed but failed to meet our criteria.

"In the meantime, the DSA is negotiating with a view to offering a motorcycle test centre service three days a week in the car park."

Test centres in Hollow Way, Cowley, and West Bar Street, Banbury, are set to close on September 28 - due to changes in the way motorcyclists are tested.

Among the changes are a series of new manoeuvres, which the DSA says have to be carried out off-road.

Motorcycle instructor John Wheeler welcomed the news about the possible new test site.

He said: "It's fantastic that the DSA may have found a solution to this problem.

"When the test centres in Oxfordshire close, the nearest ones to us will be in Swindon and Newbury - which will involve travelling along some very busy roads, that could be dangerous.

"This will be wonderful news for me and for all the other Oxfordshire training bodies. As it stands at the moment, anyone starting to learn how to ride a motorcycle will not be able to sit their test in the county unless this comes off."

He said his main concern, if a new centre was not set up in the county, would be a rise in the number of motorcyclists riding illegally.

He added: "People won't want to go all the way to Swindon and Newbury for a test, and I worry people will start to chance it."

John Angus, operations director of the Kassam Stadium, said: "We're keen to move forward with this proposal and add another facility to the stadium.

"We're working with the DSA on a contract. It's something we're more than happy to do, as we have the space."