LEEDS-based hire firm LCH is now offering a 24 hour rental booking service, with after hours calls fielded by its newly opened office on the other side of the world.

Increasing demand for low priced car hire has prompted LCH into launching its first overseas branch in Sydney, Australia, and when its Yorkshire operation closes at 5.30pm, the phones switch over to the Sydney office, with no extra cost to the caller.

The firm recently bought 600 vehicles worth £7 million from Leeds Vauxhall dealership Reg Vardy as part of its strategy to capture business from the 700,000 Australians who regularly visit the UK.