RENAULT used the charms of Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies in a nurse's outfit to lure visitors to its stand – and the ploy worked wonders.

But there was a serious message behind the ruse. Renault is launching a series of roadshows across the country this spring and summer, in which Davies and ex-England captain Stuart Pearce will be offering health checks for van drivers.

Renault decided to carry out the checks after discovering that van drivers work an average of 49 hours a week, but 46% of males never visit an optician, 48% suffer from back problems, 73% do not eat the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, 40% are doing nothing to address their perceptions of health, 72% eat at least one chocolate bar a day and half of drivers do not take a lunch break.

The results of the health checks will form a major study of Britain's van drivers to be published later in the year.

The roadshows are at Southend on May 1, Brent Cross on May 16, Manchester on May 29, Belfast on June 5, Birmingham on July 3, Bristol on July 10, Glasgow on July 24, Southampton on September 11 and Sheffield on September 18. Full details on www.vandurance.co.uk

  • Subscribe to Fleet News.
  • Get the news delivered to your desktop