Hopes that a recovery in the used van market may be beginning have been raised after BCA confirmed that demand for used LCVs remained high during February.

Prices remained firm and buyers were prepared to bid on nearly every vehicle, said the auction house.

As a result of demand, BCA has launched a new LCV sale day at its Bedford centre.

The company’s head of LCV sales, Duncan Ward said: “February has delivered more of what we saw in January.

"Following a long period in the doldrums, there is a lot more confidence in the used LCV market in 2009 and that is reflected in stronger bidding, higher conversions and improving prices.”

“Are these the first green shoots of recovery? After all, used commercial vehicles are hardly a glamour buy, they are a business tool and if sales are strong it suggests there are plenty of businesses out there looking to the future.”