Rodney Cuff, who founded what would become Platinum Motor Group in the South West, has died at the age of 73.

Cuff started the businesses in 1975 with Westward Renault at Manor Road in Frome, followed by an expansion into Bath in 1976 with the dual franchise Wellsway site offering BMW and Alfa Romeo. The holding company is Renrod Holdings but the business trades as Platinum Motor Group and Wellsway.

The group now has dealerships in Bath, Box, Frome, Chippenham and Trowbridge as well as an accident repair centre in Bath and a motor parts business in Trowbridge.

Most recently, the group has acquired the former Stones Coaches site in Bath to allow for the expansion of Wellsway, while in the same town, the former Hayes Leisure site has been acquired, close to Platinum Nissan in Box.

The group sell of cars and light commercials, plus parts and accessories and services from the Vauxhall, Renault, Toyota, Nissan, Skoda, Saab, Hyundai, BMW and Mini.