The figures show an increase of 8.3 per cent for the year to date in 1998 compared with the same period last year, and the market is well on course to achieve the predicted 2.15 million mark for the whole year.

The boom year of 1989 saw registrations at 191,276, an all time record for April 1997 was the second best year ever, and April 1998 now slots in at number three, despite a reduced number of forecourt days with Easter's appearance in the month. British-made cars took a 30.63 per cent market share compared with 35.78 per cent in April 1997.

Year to date registrations total 794,252, an eight per cent increase on the 733,209 for the same time last year.

Following a very buoyant March a small decline in April was not unexpected. "We remain cautiously optimistic for the year ahead," said an SMMT spokesman.

APRIL

TOP 10 SELLERS

1 Renault Megane

2 Ford Escort

3 Ford Fiesta

4 Vauxhall Vectra

5 Ford Mondeo

6 Vauxhall Astra

7 Peugeot 306

8 Fiat Punto

9 Vauxhall Corsa

10 Rover 200

JANUARY/APRIL

TOP 10 SELLERS

1 Ford Escort

2 Ford Fiesta

3 Vauxhall Vectra

4 Ford Mondeo

5 Renault Megane

6 Vauxhall Corsa

7 Vauxhall Astra

8 Peugeot 306

9 Rover 200

10 Peugeot 106

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.