Don't always blame the car seat if you suffer driver’s backache – worn shock absorbers could be a contributory factor.

That’s the verdict of Kwik-Fit, whose poll found that of the 57 per cent of motorists suffering backache behind the wheel who approached a professional to check over their car, one in three of them discovered the root cause of their in-car discomfort lay in a worn out suspension system.

And remember – keeping the shock absorbers in good trim is not only about spinal succour: vitally, they keep tyres firmly in contact with the road, and assist both braking and road handling, warns Kwik-Fit.