Motorists who drive in areas where car-jacking attacks have taken place should consider having anti-smash and grab protective film applied to their windows, according to the RAC Foundation.

The suggestion from the RAC Foundation follows a number of high-profile car-jacking "smash and grab" attacks throughout the country, including attacks on cars belonging to Steve Norris, Edwina Currie and Anthea Turner.

In each case the thieves were targeting valuable items such as mobile phones, expensive watches or laptop computers. Almost all cases have taken place when the vehicle has been stationary at traffic lights.

A number of hot spot smash and grab areas have been identified in different parts of the country -- Salford, Newcastle, Liverpool and parts of West London have all witnessed such attacks over the last year.

The RAC Foundation is advising motorists who are fearful of becoming victims of car-jacking to think about having protective film applied to their car windows.

Such protective film prevents people outside of the vehicle from seeing inside, reducing the likelihood for opportunistic thieves attacking cars for their contents. Protective film has in the past largely been used for cosmetic purposes in vehicles either as a window tint or to cool the car and its occupants from the sunlight.

Recent improvements in the film, which is largely used in South Africa and North America, mean that it now offers real benefits from external attacks.

Edmund King, executive director of the RAC Foundation, said: "The recent rise in horrific car-jacking attacks has highlighted an urgent need for motorists to be aware of ways to protect themselves from thieves who will, in some cases, use extreme violence to obtain a vehicle or its contents."