VAN sales during October reached a record high, according to BCA. The company said its auction houses reported exceptional demand during the month.

Duncan Ward, BCA's UK business development manager – commercial vehicles, said: 'If we thought September was good, then October was even better. The auction halls are buzzing with activity as buyers compete strongly for the stock on offer and prices are routinely outperforming guide values, sometimes by a significant degree.'

The company says such demand is benefiting all areas of the market but in particular the two to three-year-old fleet and contract hire sector has seen some exceptional results over the last 20 days.

Ward added: 'It's hard to recall a more bullish period in the marketplace and BCA has been recording better results in September and October 2003 than we have seen in even the peak period of recent years.'

Demand for late year low mileage remains strong, a sector being generated by the growing 24-hour service culture in the UK, where the same vehicle might be in constant use through shift working.

The company says that when 12-month-old hard-working vans come on to the market with 60,000 and 70,000 miles covered, pre-sale preparation is vital.