A 30-year cover-up of vehicle defects has been admitted by Mitsubishi Motors in Japan. The share price dropped on the announcement, designed to put an end to questions about the company's quality control.

Fewer than 2,000 vehicles will be recalled "initially" in the UK, said a Mitsubishi spokesman. The importer has written to 1,657 owners of 2.4 GDI Space Wagon and 264 owners of 2.4 GDI Galant effected by a possible brake booster fault.

"No UK vehicles are known to be affected by this fault which does not result in a total braking failure," said the spokesman. "We will incorporate grey import Lancer Evolution IV and V models in our free recall programme to check data programming."