Aston Martin chairman David Richards has revealed plans to take the carmaker public in order to fund its expansion.

Flotation on the London Stock Exchange, which could value the business at around £500 million, will give hundreds of thousands of Aston Martin fans a chance to own a slice of the iconic car manufacturer at a fraction of the cost of one of its models.

Richards said the company will go public in three years' time to help fund the next round of its expansion.