In the first five months of 2001 Mercedes-Benz says it has "shattered" two decades of UK car sales records.

From January to the end of May this year almost 30,000 Mercedes-Benz cars were sold in Britain, beating the full year totals of every year from 1974 to 1994.

Sales of Mercedes in the UK so far this year are more than double those for the whole of 1984 or almost seven times the total number sold in 1974, when Mercedes-Benz UK was formed.

Dermot Kelly, director of Mercedes-Benz Cars in the UK, said: "Mercedes is one of the most successful marques in Britain. We are experiencing outstanding sales successes as more and more of our products appeal to people's needs.

"But our success has not been just in the rapid growth of one model. We are continuing to widen the appeal of Mercedes-Benz by expanding our range and launching cars in sectors of the market where Mercedes had previously not had a presence."