RMI chief executive David Evans has criticised trading standards motor trade officer Peter Stratton for claiming that two-thirds of MoT certificates were issued corruptly or incompetently.

Mr Evans said: “The allegations are inaccurate and without any substantial evidence.”

But he praised moves by trading standards to stamp out rogue operators by creating a £30m modernisation programme.

“Rogue traders and unscrupulous car repairers must be exposed,” he said.