VAN sales continued to soar last month and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders believes business will continue to boom. Sales of light vans increased 13.1% year-on-year in April to 6,341 (April 2000: 5,579) taking sector sales for the year to 27,848 (2000: 26,798).

And sales of 1.8-3.5 tonne vans increased 19.5% last month to 12,653 (April 2000: 11,547) taking registrations for the year to 53,361 (2000: 50,755). SMMT chief executive Christopher Macgowan believes sales of medium-sized vans will continue to rise as vans in the weight band are the heaviest commercial vehicles which can be run without an Operator's Licence, and for a growing number of drivers, the heaviest commercial vehicle they can drive on a car licence.