Ford dealers have taken over 12,000 orders for new cars under the Government's scrappage scheme – rising by approximately 300 a day.

More than 75% of Ford's 'scrappage' orders are for its small car range, with over 47% of the 12,000 new Fords replacing blue oval-branded vehicles aged 10 years or over.

Each of the new cars sold were with a minimum £2,000 discount against mostly Ford Fiesta, Ka and Fusion models.

Nigel Sharp, Ford of Britain managing director, said: "New vehicle sales have been boosted by the scrappage scheme, and in doing so, helped secure UK jobs at Ford and our dealer partners.

“Ford has taken a healthy share of scrappage business considering the limited number of models we have in the budget area, which represents the vast majority of these sales."

Ford commissioned some independent analysis on the scrappage scheme registrations by www.cleangreencars.co.uk shows the average carbon dioxide emissions of a new Ford sold under the scrappage scheme is 134.9g/km.

The most popular car ordered by Ford customers is the new Ford Fiesta, costing from £8,595 to scrappage customers, followed by the all-new Ford Ka available from £6,595.

Star buys and top sales staff

A top of the range Ford S-Max Titanium replaced a 1997 Ford Escort Encore and a former 1997 Ford Galaxy owner bought a Ford Kuga Titanium after logging 250,000 miles in the seven-seater.

Father and son Andrew and Billy Humphrey, from Kent, kept scrappage in the family by buying Focus and Fiesta Zetec models respectively. Both traded in R-reg models – dad Andrew an Astra and Billy his Saxo – at Dagenham Motors Strood who delivered the new cars within the family's 24-day deadline.

Star sales staff in the Ford dealer network include Sumit Kanwar who has secured 40 scrappage deals at Dagenham Motors Alperton.