Britain's only fully-qualified amputee driving instructor has stepped it up a gear after being shortlisted for an entrepreneur award.

Gareth Almond is one of just six disabled businessmen selected for the first Stelios Disabled Entrepreneur Award.

The success of Mr Almond's Bulldog Spirit driving school has seen the 53-year-old meet the Queen at a Buckingham Palace dinner, feature in a Channel 4 documentary and take the Entrepreneur of the Year title at the 2BR Local Hero Awards.

Now Mr Almond, who teaches in Skipton and is also Britain's most successful disabled motorsport competitor, could be handed £50,000 by easyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-loannou.

Mr Almond said: "If I won the £50,000 I would invest it in the people who matter most and purchase more and better equipment for the driving school.

"However, it's not just about the money. If I win the award it will also help raise the profile of the needs and desires of disabled people in general."

Mr Almond, who specialises in teaching disabled pupils, said he worked in a "seriously under-represented and grossly misunderstood" sector of the driver tuition market. Disabled clients range from people who have MS, have had a stroke, or a severe trauma accident. He said: "Just because someone has a disability it doesn't necessarily mean they can't be independent. I want to encourage others in a similar position to me to achieve their true potential.

"For me, the real result of this job is the 100 per cent pass rate for my disabled pupils as there is no greater accolade than to give so many people the freedom and ability to change their lives. The Driving Standards Agency and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority viewed me as having a prohibitive disability and felt I wouldn't make a good driving instructor.

"I proved them wrong as I'm Britain's only fully-qualified amputee driving instructor and one of the most qualified disabled drivers in the UK. I'm a member of the Institute of Advanced Drivers, Diamond Advanced and Special Test Driver and RoSPA Grade 6 Advanced Driver."

The Stelios Disabled Entrepreneur Award, by charity Leonard Cheshire Disability with Sir Stelios, and the winner will be announced at the British Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, at London's Victoria and Albert Museum tonight.