LOCKING wheelnuts caused problems for thousands of company car drivers who needed tyres repaired in the past year, according to AA Tyre Fit.

Drivers losing the key to unlock the nuts accounted for most of the problems. David Goodyear, general manager at AA Tyre Fit, said: 'While our mobile units carry a variety of tools for removing locking wheel nuts, it is not an easy job and risks damage to the alloy wheel itself. It means a tyre fitment that should take about half an hour can sometimes take half a day.'

Goodyear warned fleet managers to ensure that keys are kept in a secure place inside the vehicle.

He said: 'This is especially an issue on high value fleet vehicles and, as alloy wheel designs on nearly all kinds of car become more sophisticated and valuable, it is a problem that can only grow in the future.'