Independent finance provider Haydock Finance claims to have lost vehicles worth thousands of pounds following last week’s collapse of Lake District used retailer Westmorland Car Sales.

Haydock says it is unable to find a large number of cars offered for sale on its behalf by Westmorland, which has now closed.

“We have recovered 28, of which 23 were off the forecourt, but in essence we’re 41 cars out of pocket,” says Haydock sales director John Blanchflower.

Westmorland customers would have been unaware the business was selling cars on Haydock’s behalf. However, Blanchflower says some who had bought in good faith would be allowed to keep their vehicles.