MASTERDRIVE Leasing and Rental has secured a deal with accident repair specialist Howard Basford for 200 Ford Kas on contract hire for a year. The vehicles, which will be supplied in stages over the next 12 months, will be used as courtesy cars for customers whose vehicles are being repaired by the company at its premises in Stockport, Warrington and Ellesmere Port.

The company repairs up to 230 cars a week across its three sites. It chose contract hire as the means of acquisition because it relieved the administrative burden of acquisition and disposal as well as assuring an uninterrupted flow of new vehicles to keep customers mobile.

A spokesman added: 'Short-term contract hire is a flexible and trouble-free method which enables repair specialists to provide courtesy vehicles without becoming involved with administration and fleet management issues.'