UK new car sales reach four-year high

UK new car registrations rose 5.3% in 2012 to 2.04 million - the highest level since 2008, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and traders.

The overall rise in registrations was the second annual increase since the start of the downturn in 2008, though the market remained 14.9% below its pre-recession peak in 2007, when 2.4 million cars were sold.

The chief executive of the SMMT Paul Everitt told BBC News that the lower running costs of many new vehicles had attracted people to make a buy a new car.