TODAY is a special day for Denbury mum Jackie Brealy, whose 24-year-old son Paul Bovey died in a car crash last year in north Devon.

Since October's tragedy, Mrs Brealy, 48, has devoted her time to establish the charity Pauly Stay Safe, which gives financial help to cash-strapped young drivers to complete the more demanding Pass Plus test.

And this morning she was at Newton Abbot's test centre in Brunel Road to see her first protege undergo the gruelling six-hour course of practical instruction – 19-year-old Exeter student Abbie Birch, whose brother Matt was Paul's pal.