The paper part of the UK driving licence is to be scrapped within weeks as part of Government plans to make life simpler for motorists.

But what does this mean for drivers?

It means that from June, the paper counterpart of your driving licence will be replaced with a new online system, which holds the details of all licenced drivers.

It marks the end of the 17-year-old two-part licensing scheme, which requires drivers to carry both a credit-card-sized photo-card, together with an accompanying green paper counterpart. The counterpart lists any penalty points or endorsements and, if held after June 8, it will no longer have any legal status.

You can destroy your paper counterpart after this date but you still need to keep your current photocard driving licence.

But paper driving licences issued before the photocard was introduced in 1998 will remain valid and should not be destroyed.

If you need to update your name, address or renew your licence, you will be issued with a photocard only.

Penalty points will no longer be shown on your driving licence. This information will be held on DVLA's driver record, and can be checked online, by phone or post.

Its free View Driving Licence service lets you see what details are on your licence, including what vehicles you can drive and any penalty points you may have.

The decision to abolish the counterpart was as a result of the government's Red Tape Challenge consultation on road transportation.