A GWENT Skoda garage raked in more than £150,000 as 14 customers drove away the car of their choice on the day a new era started for British motorists with the introduction of regional licence plates.

A delighted head of sales at the Langstone Motor Company, near Newport, Lyn Evans, said: 'It's brilliant but we could have done more.'

Skoda has turned two decades of bad jokes to its advantage with sales rocketing in the past four years. Models have to be ordered well in advance because of a supply shortage.

Mr Evans said his first customers on Saturday, Ken and Ann Davenport, who arrived at 6.10am from Cardiff, were equally delighted. 'This is our first Skoda but we have had such good reports from friends that we are delighted to get one,' said Ken.