Reg Vardy has inched another step closer to its target of having 100 dealerships by the end of the financial year with the acquisition this week of an MG Rover dealership in Newcastle from the Priory Motor Group.

The acquisition will increase Vardy’s MG Rover representation to five outlets when it takes over the site on January 8.

Tom McVinnie, Priory’s managing director, says the sale came as part of a general franchise review within the group because the dealership has failed to meet performance targets. It is unclear whether this will impact on the future of Priory’s other MG Rover outlets, in Nottingham and Mansfield.