MANHEIM Auctions has made its best ever start to a new year in 2002. The company is reporting a record January with sales up 15% to almost 31,000 vehicles.

The best performing centres were Manheim Auctions Colchester, Leicester, Leeds and Mansfield. These centres achieved their highest ever sales, on average selling 28% more vehicles than in 2001.

Mark Yates, group operations director, said: 'Buyers were cautious in the first week of January, and we were unsure what direction the market would take after the slump of late 2001.

'But by week two the high-quality stock encouraged competitive bidding.'