Mercedes-Benz has vowed to “hunt out unscrupulous dealers” who sell fake parts for its vehicles in the UK. The manufacturer is taking legal action against 20 firms which it says have infringed its intellectual property rights. It estimates it is losing up to £5m a year to “bogus traders”.

Wade Hubbard, DaimlerChrysler UK parts and services director, said: “We have taken legal action in the past but now are now mounting a determined campaign to stamp out the illegal traders.”