WRVS, the older people’s charity, has complained to the Advertising Standards Authority about a Mazda cars ad which trots out an old stereotype of older people being scatterbrained.

The ad, which has been running in national newspapers this week, shows an older woman trying to give directions to a younger man in a car, and suggests that if drivers "want directions you can trust" turn instead to a Mazda car with free satellite navigation.

WRVS chief executive Mark Lever said: "This is lazy advertising which reinforces a negative view of older people. Not only that, I think Mazda are ignoring a big market in the future – by 2020 nearly half the population will be over 50.

"I've written to the chief executive of Mazda UK to express our view, and lodged a complaint with the ASA.”