Chelsea named the 4x4 capital of Britain

Drivers in a borough mocked for their "Chelsea tractors" really do have the highest proportion of 4x4s in Britain.

South-west London has the highest rate of the vehicles in Britain, according to a poll by car insurance company Diamond.

The poll showed that 17.8 per cent of vehicles in SW3, in Kensington and Chelsea, were 4x4s. Nearby W8 was next with 17.4 per cent.

The preponderance of 4x4s in suburban areas of southern England was also shown by Guildford in Surrey, Wadhurst in Kent and Brentwood in Essex all featuring in the top 10.

Occupation-wise, those most likely to drive a 4x4 were haulage contractors, followed by bank directors, farmers and agricultural contractors.

Diamond managing director Elwyn Gedrych said: "Over recent years an array of new 4x4 vehicles have entered the market, such as the Range Rover Sport. These have attracted the driver who wants the performance of a car but the size of a 4x4, and can now be seen in large numbers on our roads.

"These vehicles are obviously particularly popular in Chelsea - in fact, almost one in five cars driven in Chelsea is a 4x4."