'THE Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders' annual Motor Industry Facts publication puts the burgeoning UK diesel market into perspective.

In 2003 the UK market share for diesel was 27.3%, compared with 39.7% in Germany, 48.5% in Italy, Spain's 59.4% and a huge 67.4% across the Channel in France.

Here in the UK, the past decade has not seen as consistent growth in diesel as it is tempting to assume. For example, it was 22.6% back in 1994 and fell as low as 13.8% in 1999.

However, this year will see a bumper figure for UK diesel registrations and the diesel share of the used market will grow further. One thought that interests me is how stimulated demand for used diesels would be if fuel prices fell below petrol, as it is in France.

Where economy is the prime consideration for used car buyers, this would be very welcome indeed.

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