Living out in the country where I do, 4x4s are pretty much a way of life, especially where country roads are constantly broken up by increasingly heavy 'agro-baron' agricultural vehicles and seldom, if ever, repaired. I have to hold my hand up and say that I own one and they are a much better proposition than a normal car and, in winter, are a godsend.

As an inveterate walker in isolated places and also a volunteer Tree Health Surveyor with the Observatree Project, I do sometime go off-road in order to reach a starting/finishing point for my walks or an isolated piece of woodland but, as my 4x4 is 14 years old, I tend to nurse it gently along to avoid sustaining any damage and only take it as far as is absolutely necessary.

What really baffles me is the current fashion for immaculate, expensive white 4x4s which are never taken off main roads. My car hasn't been washed in 6 years and is a workhorse rather than a luxury cruiser.