A YORK motorbike fan paid for doubting his wife's skills at the wheel when she rolled up the drive on a motorcycle after passing her test - without his knowledge.

Peter Oldfield had to buy wife, Julie, a new bike after he poured scorn on her claim that she would cut the mustard on a motorcycle.

He had told Julie "there's a fat chance of that" after she told him she wanted to take the controls of his pride and joy.

But Julie, 46, turned the tables on her bike-loving husband and took secret lessons to pass the 500cc riders' test.

She said Peter's jaw dropped when she arrived at the drive of their home in Knapton Lane, Acomb, York, on a machine with licence in hand.

"He was absolutely astonished," Julie said. "Last year he got a bike, and he was asking me if I wanted to ride pillion.

"I said I would rather be at the front. He went on holiday in June and I took some lessons.

"I continued them in secret and pretended to show no interest in the bike. He never knew and he was really shocked. He has bought me my own bike now!"

Updated: 09:11 Saturday, July 26, 2003