The weather may still be reasonably mild at the moment, but it’s about to take a turn for the worse. And it pays to be prepared, as the consequences of suffering a breakdown or being stranded can be at best inconvenient and at worst life threatening.

Research suggests that 65 per cent of motorists spend less than £200 getting their car in shape for the harshest months of the year. What’s more, one in three has had a particularly bad driving experience or been stuck on a journey in severe weather.

With a little planning, you and your vehicle can survive even the harshest conditions.