National corporate sales manager Richard Sweatt said: 'We have been approached by a lot of daily rental companies who seem to think we are chasing registrations, but that is not the case. The deal was a positive move on Nidd Vale's part and, if dealers want to be proactive in this way we support them, as long as daily rental numbers are kept down.'

Under the deal 50 of the top-of-the-range models, fitted with air conditioning, twin airbags, power steering and ABS, are being delivered this month, with a further 25 to follow in September and 25 in October. The 100 vehicles join European Car Rental's fleet of around 950 cars and 50 vans, operating from eight branches in England and Scotland.