New car sales accelerated to a new record last year, with 2,458,769 vehicles being purchased, according to official figures.

The 2001 total was 10.7 per cent up on the 2000 figure and comfortably surpassed the previous record of 2.3 million set in 1989, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders announced.

There were 126,471 new cars sold in December 2001 - 17.3 per cent up on the December 2000 total.

Seven of the months of 2001 produced record sales, including each of the last four months of the year.

SMMT chief executive Christopher Macgowan said: "This was the year in which the sun shone on new car buyers."

He added: "We have had a more competitive market than ever before and a raft of enticing new models to tempt the buying public.

"December's figures are really the icing on the cake. Many commentators have waited for the market to cool, but I'm delighted that this hasn't happened."

Roger Higman, transport campaigner for Friends of the Earth, said: "People are voting with their pockets. "If the Government doesn't give them decent public transport, it's not surprising that they buy cars. However, that will only make congestion and conditions worse for everyone."

"Tony Blair has got to start putting more money into our overcrowded, underfunded rail and bus systems."

Private registrations, buoyed by the big fall in new car prices, soared 22 per cent last year and accounted for 49.3 per cent of total sales - the highest market share since 1993.

Imported cars accounted for a record 75.8 per cent of all registrations last year - up from 71.7 per cent in 2000. UK-built registrations rose 7.8 per cent in December 2001 but were down 5.6 per cent to 24.2 per cent for the year as a whole. The number of new diesel-powered cars sold rose 39.4 per cent last year to a record 436,591. As well as September to December, the record months of 2001 were March, June and July.

The top selling cars in 2001 were: 1. Ford Focus, 2. Vauxhall Astra, 3. Peugeot 206, 4. Ford Fiesta, 5. Vauxhall Corsa, 6. Ford Mondeo, 7. Renault Clio, 8. Renault Megane, 9. Volkswagen Golf, 10. Citroen Xsara.