Nearly 4,000 Lexus cars sold in the UK are being recalled for repairs due to concerns about faulty fuel pipes.

It is part of a wider recall across Japan, the US, Canada and Germany which affects 264,000 of the luxury vehicles.

Faulty fuel pipe design could cause cracks and corrosion and lead to fuel leaks on the affected cars, according to an announcement in Japan.

In the UK, Lexus IS250 cars produced between June and December 2005 and GS300 models from September 2004 to November 2005 are affected.

The manufacturer will contact UK-based owners via the DVLA asking them to bring their cars in for a three-and-a-half-hour repair job.

Lexus spokesman Alun Parry said: "We will be looking to replace the fuel pipe on the car for free.

"We will be preparing some kind of customer goodwill package as we did when these incidents have arisen before. "

Mr Parry said there had been no reports of fuel pipe problems with Lexus cars in the UK or anywhere else in Europe.

There were 39 cases of trouble reported in Japan but no injuries, according to the Transport Ministry there.

"There is no danger. This is just part of on-going checks. There is a potential fault in the seam welding of the fuel pipe," Mr Parry added.