Chaos for Brits in Spain as they are banned from driving after failing to reach an agreement on UK driving licences

UK expats living in Spain are facing weeks of travel chaos after being barred from driving in a government blunder over licences.

Tens of thousands of Britons are banned from using their UK licenses on Spanish roads after the two countries failed to reach an agreement.

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Vacationers won’t be affected by the slip, but those who have moved to the countryside won’t be able to drive.

Whitehall sources have accused Spanish bureaucrats of delaying talks and missing the April 30 deadline.

Brits living in the country were able to use their DVLA-issued licenses up to this point, and every other European country has agreed to a post-Brexit deal.

Tory MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith said that post on Sunday: “It’s a case of ‘Manana, manana. It’s time they pulled out their finger and did what they agreed to do.”

A UK Government source said: “This could take a week or longer.

“It was supposed to be temporary, but we don’t know how temporary. Meanwhile, British residents living in Spanish hilltop villages will not be able to drive.”

A Foreign Office spokesman added: “An agreement to exchange UK driving licenses for Spanish driving licenses has not yet been reached.

“We have agreed to rapidly accelerate talks and urge the Spanish government to take interim measures.”

The bug means British expats must obtain a Spanish driver’s license before hitting the road with their cars.

Malaga’s Sam Britton-Beese said: “It’s ridiculous. Our residence application was still being processed before the deadline, so we were not able to register for the exchange.”

Linda Rogers, originally from Coventry, added: “Our home is in the mountains and nothing is close by – I’ve tried to get into a driving school but nothing is available.”