UK sales of the Cowley-built Mini have risen by more than 20 per cent, latest official figures have revealed.

Statistics from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show 1,173 cars were sold in February, compared to 973 in the same month last year.

But sales for the year to date are still more than ten per cent down on 2010 thanks to a 24 per cent fall in January which Mini parent company BMW put down to customers looking to beat the VAT increase.

Nationally, new car registrations fell by 7.7 per cent to 63,424 units.