Dozens of lives could be saved and hundreds of accidents avoided in the UK each year for just 20p according to TyreSafe.

October is Tyre Safety Month and garages across the country will be encouraging motorists to check the depth of their tyre tread by using a 20p coin, to ensure they stay safe and legal.

Stuart Jackson, chairman of TyreSafe, said: "The ‘lifesaver in your pocket' campaign gives drivers an incredibly easy and simple way to check their tread depth which will help them stay safe and on the right side of the law."

The ‘lifesaver in your pocket' campaign encourages drivers to insert a 20p coin into the main grooves of the tyre to check the tread depth.

If the outer band of the coin is visible when inserted, then the tyre may not have sufficient depth and should be checked by a qualified specialist.