Nidd Vale sales increase

Nidd Vale Group, the Harrogate-based independent car retailer, boosted sales by nearly 9% last year to £63 million.

Nidd Vale chairman and chief executive Colin Hainstock said group after-sales turnover grew strongly to £5.9m, a rise of 17.6% on the 2005 total.

He added: "We concentrate on retail sales. Non-profit making fleet business does not interest us.

"Our service and parts departments both performed well, with rises of 21.7% and 14.2% respectively. Group profitability has continued to grow in line with our five-year business plan and remains comfortably above the industry average."