Lower car prices have encouraged people to splash out on a new motor, boosting profits at motor dealership Lookers.

Lookers' chairman Mr Fred Maguire said confidence had returned to the new car market, and the group had seen nine consecutive months of growth in new car sales.

New car sales for the six months to June 30th rose by 41 per cent against the same period last year, while used cars rose 32 per cent.

Over the six months, Lookers, which owns the Charles Hurst operation in Northern Ireland, made pre-tax profits of £6.5 million sterling - 30 per cent ahead of the same period the previous year - while turnover rose 26 per cent to £374 million.