An industry body is calling for a clampdown on cowboy motor traders. The Trading Standards Institute is calling for fleets to be protected from incompetent servicing, misleading advice on repair needs, sale of unroadworthy vehicles and poor information.

Complaints of malpractice in the motor trade remain the highest single cause for concern among trading standards services, running at about 100,000 a year.

Steve Delahaye, chairman of the Trading Standards Institute said: "Legislation is needed to sort out the bad reputation that certain sections of the trade have given the industry."

The call comes after a £30 million modernisation fund for Trading Standards professionals to stamp out rogue traders was announced by Melanie Johnson, the minister for competition, consumer affairs and markets.