RENAULT is recalling 14,000 Kangoo vans and cars in the UK after a fault was discovered in the mechanism controlling seatbelts and airbags. The company says the 'accelerometer', made by Swedish company Autoliv, responsible for triggering airbags and seatbelt pre-tensioners, had been found to be over-sensitive following incidents in Europe.

The recall affects vehicles produced between December 1998 and May 2000 - a total of 264,377. A spokesman said: 'The components have been recalibrated so they are no longer over-sensitive and we will be contacting all Kangoo owners.'