Top Gear presenter Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff was injured and taken to hospital to receive medical treatment after being involved in an accident while filming for the show.

The incident happened on Tuesday morning while the 45-year-old former professional cricketer was filming at the Top Gear test track at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey.

A BBC spokesperson said: “Freddie was injured in an accident at the Top Gear test track this morning – with crew medics attending the scene immediately.

“He has been taken to hospital for further treatment and we will confirm more details in due course.”

The father of four, who has presented the BBC One show since 2019, was airlifted to hospital following the incident, but is not thought to have suffered any life-threatening injuries, The Sun reported.

Flintoff, who was appointed England cricket captain twice, first in 2006 and 2007, retired from the international stage in 2010, briefly returning to play for Lancashire four years later.

Following his successful sporting career he became a familiar face on television, joining various reality and panel shows and appearing as the face of supermarket brand Morrisons.

In 2010 he became a team captain on Sky’s A League Of Their Own, hosted by James Corden before being crowned king of the jungle in the first series of the Australian version of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! in 2015.

After appearing in the BBC drama Love, Lies and Records in 2017, he went on to make his musical theatre debut in Kay Mellor’s Fat Friends The Musical and hosted All Star Musicals for ITV in December the same year.

He was announced in October 2018, ahead of the show’s 27th series, as a new host of Top Gear alongside Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris.

Tuesday’s accident is not the first faced by Flintoff since he began working on the programme.

In February 2019 the presenter was involved in a minor incident when he crashed into a market stall in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.

In September of the same year he crashed again while driving a three-wheel vehicle at a reported speed of 124mph during filming for Top Gear at Elvington Airfield in Yorkshire, but walked away from the incident unharmed.

Former Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond was involved in a serious crash at the same airfield in 2006, leaving him in a coma.

Vehicle breakdowns reached record levels on Monday due to freezing conditions across the UK.

The RAC said it received around 12,000 call-outs from stranded motorists.

That was the most for a single day since the company began uniformed patrols in 1901, including during the so-called Beast from the East freeze in 2018.

RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said: “Monday was officially our busiest day for breakdowns on record.

“We believe two key ingredients have combined to create the worst-ever winter breakdown cocktail.

“There has been a sustained period of cold weather with an absence of widespread snow that would otherwise keep people indoors, and a big rise in the number of drivers who can’t afford to maintain their vehicles as well as they’d like to due to the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.”

Many motorists were stuck on a stretch of the M25 in Hertfordshire which was closed for several hours on Monday morning due to snow.

Mr Dennis went on: “Hazardous road conditions are continuing following another major refreeze overnight.

“Those who have to use more rural roads that haven’t been gritted will need to exercise great care, or delay or abandon their plans.”

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, said icy roads are “the biggest problem for drivers” on Tuesday.

Motorists are “slipping and sliding” as sub-zero temperatures have frozen snow and uncleared ice, he warned.

Mr Cousens advised drivers to use main roads “as much as possible”.

He added: “Slow and steady is the only option when driving on frozen roads.”

Meanwhile aviation analytics firm Cirium said a total of 233 departures were cancelled from UK airports on Monday as the wintry conditions hit airlines.

Stansted was the worst affected airport, with 78 flights axed.

Reliability returned to normal levels on Tuesday.

A Ford Capri 280 Brooklands that was discovered in a garage with just 2,960 miles on the clock has fetched close to £40,000 at auction.

Registered new by Soans of Leamington Spa, the Capri is finished in desirable Brooklands Green with a ‘Raven’ leather interior. Sold by Classic Car Auctions at its Christmas sale at the weekend, the Brooklands is said to feature an interior which is in ‘time warp condition’ and that with a ‘bit of elbow grease it can be returned to showroom condition. At the fall of the hammer, the Capri had achieved a final price of £39,938.

The Christmas Sale also included a number of other standout listings. A 1978 Jaguar E-Type Series 3 Roadster with 37,080 miles on the clock went for £81,000, while a 1971 Datsun 240Z ‘Works Rally’ replica achieved a final price of £32,063.

This latter car, originally imported from California, was a particularly stand-out sale due to its full rally preparation which allowed it to take part in the London to Cape Town Rally.

Many other cars passed well beyond their initial estimates. A 1975 AC Cobra Replica, for example, was estimated to achieve between £18,000 and £22,000, but had reached £27,255 by the time the hammer fell. A 2007 Mercedes CLK 63 AMG Cabriolet, meanwhile, came with an estimate of £16,000 but smashed this to reach £30,375.

Classic Car Auctions is now inviting entries for their 2023 sales, which will kick off at the Practical Classics Classic and Restoration Show at the NEC in Birmingham on March 24-26.

Demand for electric vehicles (EVs) is falling amid the cost-of-living crisis and doubts about the Government’s electrification ambitions, new figures show.

Auto Trader said EVs accounted for fewer than a fifth (19%) of new car inquiries sent to retailers through its online marketplace last month.

That is down from 27% in June.

The company also reported that the number of searches and advert views for used cars has fallen by 13% in the past 12 months.

That is the first year-on-year decline since April 2020, shortly after the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Auto Trader noted that the fall in demand for EVs coincides with rising energy prices, petrol and diesel prices softening, and concerns about Government policy over EVs.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced last month that new zero-emission cars will no longer be exempt from vehicle excise duty from April 2025.

Auto Trader has pushed back its forecast for when EVs will account for 50% of new car sales from 2026 to 2027.

Editorial director Erin Baker said: “Although current sales figures look positive, the rapid decline in consumer appetite for electric vehicles reveals the market is on thin ice where mass electric adoption is concerned.

“And with the forecast of new car electric sales reaching 50% being pushed back to 2027, the market faces a precarious combination of factors which could cause major potholes on the road to 2030 without further action from Government and industry to encourage mass adoption.

“There are some positive signs with running costs still in EVs’ favour and more affordable models in the pipeline, particularly those from Asia.

“But today’s slowdown in demand for EVs translate into lower sales as we enter 2023.”

Separate figures issued by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders showed plug-in cars such as pure electrics and plug-in hybrids accounted for 28% of the new car market last month.

Sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans in the UK will be banned from 2030.

Drivers are being warned to expect lengthy traffic jams on major routes in the run-up to Christmas.

The busiest days for getaway travel will be December 23 and Christmas Eve – which will both see nearly 17 million cars on UK roads, the AA estimated.

A survey of more than 12,000 motorists indicated that 51% plan to make a car journey on December 23, with 50% expecting to make a trip the following day.

Disruption to rail services due to strikes and engineering work mean more people are likely to switch from trains to road vehicles for their getaway journey.

Potential congestion hotspots identified by the AA include the M25, the M5 between Bristol and Weston-super-Mare, and the M6 around Birmingham.

Long delays are also anticipated on the M1 from Luton northwards, the M60 and M62 in north-west England, the M4 which runs between west London and south-west Wales, and the M27 in Hampshire.

December 17 is expected to be the busiest day for High Streets, retail outlets and shopping centres as 20% of respondents to the survey said they will go Christmas shopping on that day.

Business-related travel is expected to drop off after December 16 until the new year.

AA president Edmund King said: “While December 23 and Christmas Eve look set to be the busiest travelling days, planned industrial action by rail staff may lead to increased levels of cars on our roads.

“Our expert patrols will be working throughout the holidays to help fix cars that suffer problems, while providing assistance to drivers should they be involved in a crash.

“Many breakdowns are preventable, so checking your vehicle before you set off is very important.”

He urged drivers to examine levels of fuel, oil, coolant and screen wash, and ensure tyres are correctly inflated.

The UK is currently experiencing a big fall in temperatures, with forecasters predicting a lot of snow and ice for many of the country’s regions. As well as making everyone feel a little chillier, cold weather can have a big impact on a car, too.

But what happens to your car when the weather gets colder and is there anything you can do to help? Let’s find out.

Battery

Your battery is what sparks life into an engine. During warmer temperatures, it isn’t put under that much strain and getting an engine going doesn’t require too much work from the battery.

However, when the temperature falls, your battery is required to use more energy to get an engine started. If there’s not the right amount of energy in reserve, your car may struggle to start or not get going at all. If you’ve noticed that it’s having trouble starting, then a real fall in temperature could push it over the edge and cause it to fail – so you’d be best replacing it to ensure that it starts at the turn of the key.

Spark plugs

Spark plugs are what kickstarts the combustion process of a petrol-powered car and, like so many other electrical-related components, they can quickly fail in colder weather. This is more likely the case for older spark plugs.

If you notice that your car is feeling down on power or sluggish, then it may mean that a spark plug has failed. You’ll need to get it checked out by a professional and replaced if needed.

Windscreen issues

Sub-zero temperatures can cause some issues for windscreens, too. If you’ve got a small chip in the screen – perhaps caused by a stone during summertime – then a fall in temperature can quickly transform this into a larger and more dangerous crack.

If this happens, you’ll most likely have to have the windscreen replaced. However, if you’ve still got a chip, then this can be professionally repaired, which will help reduce the chances of it worsening.

Tyre pressures

Your tyre pressures can also be affected by a fall in temperatures. Even a small drop can affect them, changing how they perform and reducing their effectiveness.

It’s why giving your tyres a quick check after a cold snap can prove so useful. You’ll be able to find your car’s recommended pressures in the vehicle handbook or sometimes behind the fuel filler door. Inflate them to the correct pressures and you’ll know that your tyres are working as effectively as possible.

Fluids thicken up

Your car relies on all manner of fluids to work effectively. During colder weather, their viscosity can change, making them thicker and less able to work as they should.

However, there’s a really easy remedy to this. Simply allow your car to warm up properly before driving away as this will allow the fluids to heat and move around the system correctly. Always remember to stay with your car when you’re doing this – don’t be tempted to start it and go back inside the house.

Electric cars

Just as a petrol car’s battery is put under extra pressure in cold weather, the same goes for a fully electric car. Batteries use a chemical reaction to take on and release energy and during cold weather this process is slowed down. It’s why electric cars aren’t able to offer their best-possible range during winter. You could see around a 20 per cent decrease in range, though the latest EVs will see this fall to around 10 per cent of the claimed range.

You can help by using an EV’s pre-warm function – if it has been fitted with it – which can help to bring the battery up to its correct temperature and, in the process, help it deliver more range.

Euro NCAP has revealed its final safety results for 2022, with only three of the 14 cars tested not receiving the top five-star rating.

The crash and safety organisation assessed a wide variety of models including those from upcoming Chinese brands.

Highlights included the new MG4, which despite being one of the UK’s cheapest electric cars was still given five stars. The Chery Omada 5 crossover and Maxus MIFA 9 MPV – both currently not on sale in the UK but may be in the future – were also handed the top rating.

At the more premium end of the market, the Lucid Air – an American luxury saloon that rivals the Tesla Model S – was awarded top honours, as were the new Lexus RX and Mercedes GLC, along with the updated Land Rover Discovery Sport.

Volkswagen’s radical new ID.Buzz was given a five-star rating too, as were VW’s new Amarok pick-up and the Ford Ranger.

With Euro NCAP recently updating its testing to be more stringent, a number of popular new cars have been retested. The Skoda Octavia family car retained its five-star rating, but the Ford Puma crossover and Volkswagen Touran MPV dropped to four stars because of ‘challenges in adult occupant protection’. The final models to be tested was the new Peugeot 408 fastback, which also received a four-star rating.

Michiel van Ratingen, secretary general of Euro NCAP, said: “2022 has been one of Euro NCAP’s busiest-ever years and we have seen a lot of new car makers and new technologies. It’s clear that European consumers still demand the highest levels of safety and that a good Euro NCAP rating is seen by car manufacturers as critical to success here.

“Twenty-five years since it first started, Euro NCAP is still driving ever-higher levels of safety, and our protocols for 2023 will bring exciting, tough new challenges to the car industry.”

Off-roading fans wanting something electric now have a new option with the reveal of the Munro Mk1 – a model designed, engineered and built in Scotland.

Claiming to be the ‘world’s most capable all-electric 4×4’, the Munro Mk1 has been designed for the toughest terrains, yet promises to be simple to maintain, and engineered to last ‘50 years of service’.

Named after a Scottish mountain, Munro’s Mk1 is available with up to 375bhp from its large single electric motor and comes with the option of two battery sizes – 61kWh or 82kWh. The latter allows for a claimed 190 miles of range, which the firm says allows for 16 hours of off-road use on a single charge.

Though the Mk1 can accelerate from 0-60mph in less than five seconds, Munro says the focus is more on ‘utility’, rather than performance. A generous 700Nm of torque is said to equate to ‘excellent response off-road’. Munro’s model can also tow up to 3,500kg while accommodating a 1,000kg payload.

Sitting on a steel ladder chassis – often used by more utilitarian 4x4s – the Mk1 offers 480mmm of ground clearance, and a wading depth of up to 800mm, along with approach and departure angles that are said to make it ‘cope effortlessly’ when off-roading.

Its design is big and boxy, with quad LED headlights and a large grille adding to the bold look of this five-seat, five-door 4×4.

Russell Peterson, CEO of Munro Vehicles, said: “The engineering is unashamedly agricultural in nature. Some people see the term agricultural as potentially derogatory, but at Munro, we certainly don’t.

“Agricultural vehicles feature some of the most sophisticated technology you can imagine. But above all, they are engineered to do the job, no matter how much punishment they soak up, and to keep doing it year after year. The Munro has been built to the most robust standards possible and to be fully operational in 30, 40, 50 years’ time.”

Munro says it has been testing the Mk1 for the past two years around Scotland, and that it has already received orders from the UK, as well as more exotic locations like St Lucia and Dubai. Prices here start £49,995, excluding VAT.

Production will begin next year at its East Kilbride headquarters, with 50 due to be handbuilt in 2023. Munro says it will then expand to a ‘purpose-built production facility in central Scotland’ in 2024. The firm has a goal to produce 2,500 units annually by 2027.