Grannies save their families a year £3,000 in taxi bills

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An estimated 3.4million of them act as unpaid chauffeurs, saving each of their families more than £3,000 a year in taxi bills.

Most of the grandparents questioned for the survey said the journeys took place during family visits or on trips to museums, theme parks and other attractions.

More than a third said they had been called up for the school run or for lifts to parties.

Barely half said they enjoyed the extra driving and one in five admitted resenting their families asking them for help.

However, Mark Tyrrell, a psychotherapist and expert on anxiety and depression, said taxi duties could benefit all parties.

"For the youngsters, exposure to the wisdom and perspective of older people is vital for their healthy development," he said.

"For grandparents, a feeling of being needed and actively involved in young lives is very healthy and can make them feel relevant."

The survey of 1,003 adults was carried out for insurer Sheilas' Wheels by ICM Research.