Real stories · A cool seat on a hot drive

The cooling car cushion that stopped my back sticking to the seat on hot drives

A car seat that didn't leave me hot and stuck to it by the end of a summer drive — honestly, that's all I wanted. I'm 67, and I do a fair bit of driving — to my daughter's, to the garden centre, ferrying Winnie to the vet — and on a warm day the seat turns into a hot, sticky thing. My back would be damp against it within minutes, and I'd climb out uncomfortable and crumpled. No amount of air-con seemed to reach the bit of me that was actually sitting down.

What I wanted was something simple to lay on the seat that would let the air move and keep me cool underneath on a warm drive.

Then I found the Blythe cushions from a British label called York Boutique — cooling car seat cushions, and I chose the beige to suit the car.

They've made summer driving bearable again. The whole cushion is an open, breathable honeycomb mesh, which is why the air moves right through it instead of trapping the heat against you — so my back stays cool and dry rather than sticking to the seat. It just lays on top with a non-slip backing so it stays put, it fits my car without any fuss, and it wipes clean in a moment. I get out cool and comfortable now, even after a long run.

The air moves right through it, so I don't stick to the seat any more. I get out of the car cool and comfortable.

A proper cooling cushion, I assumed, would be forty pounds. But York Boutique sells direct, so they were from £19.95 in the summer sale. A small price for a comfortable drive.

My husband pinched mine for his side, so I may need to order the pair. I'd checked before ordering that I could send them back if they didn't suit — you can, within a fortnight, and the delivery's free — so there was nothing lost by trying. They come in several colours and fit most cars.

If your car seat turns into a hot, sticky thing in summer like mine did, do treat yourself to a look. The Blythe is rated 4.6 out of 5 by more than 300 drivers, it's from £19.95 in the summer sale instead of £40 — half price — and they always seem to sell quickly in the heat.