Some 85 per cent of female motorists have said that they leave personal items in their car that are more suited to being kept in a wardrobe, research has revealed.

A survey by car insurance firm Sheila's Wheels has also found that six in ten women see their car as an extension of their home, with an average of £129 of personal items being kept in their vehicle.

Books proved to be the most popular stored item, with 39 per cent saying they store a paperback or hardcover in their car. For 35 per cent of women drivers, shoes made a regular trip on the road with them.

Clothes, children's toys and toiletries completed the top five list of things female motorists carry in their car.

"Female motorists seem unaware of the dangers of having personal items loose in the car whilst on the move. They could slip under the brake pedal or, in the event of an accident, become an in-car missile," said Jacky Brown from Sheila's Wheels.

Empty drink cans/water bottles, food packaging, lipstick, deodorant and hairbrushes are the five things most likely to slip under a car pedal while driving, the company has said.

Sheila's Wheels entered the car insurance market in October 2005, according to the firm's website, and offers products that include handbag cover.

Find out about female-friendly motoring services with a difference.

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