FORD has denied there is a fault with the handbrake on the new Mondeo despite a decision to recall 60,000 vehicles for checks.

The move follows complaints from customers that cars had moved with the handbrake applied, and comes nine months after Fleet News first revealed the problem.

Last summer Ford issued guidance to drivers on correct application of the handbrake following incidents where it had failed to keep cars stationary.

The company denies there is a fault and maintains that in cases where cars have moved while parked the drivers had failed to apply the brake correctly.

A Ford spokesman said: 'We had complaints from a handful of customers who reported they had applied the handbrake and experienced movement afterwards. We have found that while there is no fault with the handbrake mechanism, the handbrake needs to be applied fully.'

He added that dealers would now adjust the handbrake to eliminate the risk of the car moving while parked.

Toyota is recalling nearly 6,600 Corolla hatchbacks in the UK to check that bolts connecting the rear brake and hub assembly to the axle are tight enough. The recall affects cars built between November 2001 and March 2002, although no incidents of failure have been reported. Toyota dealers will carry out the work in about 30 minutes.