LIGHT van sales fell by 6.7% in June, bucking the overall trend for commercial vehicle registrations. But the medium vans sector (2.6 to 3.5-tonnes GVW) posted strong growth with a 12.4% increase, while registrations of four-wheel drive commercial vehicles rose by more than 60% for the month.

The light vans (less than 1.8-tonnes) sector has shown solid growth in 2001 and registrations are still ahead of last year to June, while medium van registrations grew by 12.4%. Christopher Macgowan, SMMT chief executive, said: 'June CV registrations are above last year and at near record levels.

'We've only seen registrations this high three times in the last 13 years. The trend of the past 12 months is still above the annual registration forecast and very encouraging.'