FEARS are mounting that manufacturers will force the August market to meet their bullish forecasts - as nearly-new S-plate cars are discovered. Early indications from both car makers and dealers suggest forecourts have been much quieter than expected in the first half of the month.

Many customers are thought to have gone away on holiday after the World Cup and the poor early summer weather. This does not bode well for a market predicted to exceed 525,000 registrations, and compromising circumstantial evidence is already coming to light that sales figures are being manipulated.

Research by Fleet NewsNet found S-plate cars were available on 'nearly-new' contract hire from Lex Vehicle Leasing just one week into the new registration letter, while National Car Supermarkets was selling a batch of S-reg Toyota Starlets, although these had apparently been imported from Southern Ireland.