COMMERCIAL vehicle sales reached their fourth highest level in nearly 25 years last month, according to latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

A total of 28,293 commercial vehicles were sold last month, up 3.6% on the same period last year. Light commercial vehicles were a key driving force in the sales success, rising 3.3% to 23,553, while truck sales were up 6.7% to 4,385.

Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders chief executive Christopher Macgowan said: 'These investment figures show clear confidence in the buoyancy and growth potential of domestic demand, with clear confidence across many sectors of the UK economy.'

For the year-to-date, the commercial vehicle market is 11.7% ahead of last year, at 147,636, with light commercial vehicle sales up 11.7% to 123,254. In the light van market, 1.8 to 2.6-tonne range sales were up 39.4% in May to 2,395 units.

Heavier vans, from 2.6 to 3.5-tonnes, dropped 1.4% to 12,869. Light vans under 1.8- tonnes also dropped, down 1.2%.