VANS are the driving force behind a 21.8% leap in commercial vehicle registrations during February.

Total commercial vehicle sales were 18,066, with light commercial vehicles accounting for 14,469 sales, an increase of 29.8%.

Light vans under 1.8 tonnes bucked a recent trend of falling demand, with sales up 33.2%, to 5,190, year-on-year in February, while the 1.8-3.5 tonne segment rose from 6,870 to 8,837.

Christopher Macgowan, chief executive of the SMMT, said: 'This continues an extremely good start to the year, making seven straight months growth, which is particularly welcome.

'Because much of the commercial vehicle market's business is done at the beginning of the year, the prospects for 2002 look good.'