Women to blame for rise of 'gas guzzling' 4x4s

The growth of "Chelsea tractor" 4x4 vehicles is being fuelled by women, it was revealed today.

Women with children are four times as likely to be behind the wheel of a 4x4 than they were 10 years ago, the company's statistics from car insurance company Diamond found showed.

Men with children were only twice as likely to drive a 4x4 than they were 10 years ago.

And while men driving these off-roaders are most likely to be farmers, the top occupation for a woman 4x4 driver is a company director.

Diamond also found that the number of 4x4s on the road has doubled since 1997. The company's managing director Sian Lewis said: "Some members of the public are critical of mums using their 4x4s on the school run, and these figures won't do much to deflect this criticism.

"It wasn't a surprise to see an increase in the number of 4x4s being driven, but I wasn't expecting to see such a big jump for women with children."

She went on: "4x4s are seen as a practical way in which to ferry children around due to their size, and some people perceive them to be safer for passengers.

"They can easily accommodate plenty of children and all the paraphernalia they attract in the same way that estate cars did 10 years ago."