32,678 commercial vehicles were sold in April, 11.9 per cent up on 2004. Light commercial vehicles rose to 27,313, up 12.8 per cent. Truck sales reached 5,110, an 8.2 per cent increase on last year.

Alan Pulham, franchised dealer director for the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) said: 'Commercial vehicle sales have continued to climb through the first quarter of 2005, and the rate of growth points to the vitality of the UK economy.

'This certainly bodes well for continued overall growth throughout the new Parliament.'