Increase in number of older cars

A record 15.4 million cars on Britain’s roads will be at least 10 years old by 2027, according to new analysis.

Drivers will be behind the wheel of an extra 3.6m decade-old cars in five years compared with 2021, a forecast by Auto Trader suggested.

It blamed the increase on disruption to new car production since the start of the pandemic.

Shortages of semiconductors and other parts have left two million more older cars on the road.

Auto Trader director Ian Plummer said: “The aftermath of Covid means that around 40% of cars on the road will be more than 10 years old in five years’ time.”

Meanwhile, figures acquired by Scottish Liberal Democrats show that Police Scotland have 348 vehicles which are over 10 years old, while 754 vehicles have racked up more than 100,000 miles.

The party’s justice spokesperson, Liam McArthur, said: “Carrying out police duties in decade-old vehicles is just another symptom of the pressure that Police Scotland is under.”