Two former employees of Coredale have joined forces to open the Cromer Car Centre at Cromer in Norfolk.

Robert Richmond and Clive Gentle have secured the Perodua franchise.

“So far we’ve sold three cars,” says Richmond. “I think they’re great cars and that there’s a real market for them in our region.

“We’re also in talks with Proton about selling its vehicles.”

As well as selling new and used cars, the build will incorporate four workshop bays and an MoT testing facility.

Richmond and Gentle registered the business earlier this year and are running it from a temporary premises at Mundesly in Norfolk together with a former Coredale technician, Paul Weston.

Richmond says: “We’re moving into a purpose built garage, across from the old Coredale site in Cromer, in the new year but we don’t know the exact date yet.”

Cromer Car Centre is set to employ around 10 people and Richmond says the company will be roughly half the size of Coredale in terms of sales and turnover, but declined to state exact figures. Coredale closed on March 31 after last-ditch attempts to save the business failed.