The number of new vehicles being registered in the UK rose for the seventh consecutive quarter in the first three months of 2013.

Figures published by the Department for Transport (DfT) highlighted a 6.5 per cent upturn in the first quarter of the year when compared with the corresponding period in 2012, as 711,000 vehicles were cleared for use on British roads.

The UK is currently performing better than any other major EU nation in this particular area, although the DfT's figures were not entirely positive.

Indeed, the demand for HGVs and buses dropped by 0.9 per cent in the 12 months to the end of the first quarter of 2013, which is a continuation of a long-term trend.

According to the DfT, lorry sales have been in decline since the recession took hold in 2008-09, as logistics companies have found the going extremely tough.

That said, light goods vehicles are still selling reasonably well, with registrations rising by 1.4 per cent year-on-year in 2012-13.