Kwik-Fit has opened a £10m National Distribution Centre in Corby, Northamptonshire, aimed at providing quicker deliveries and reducing carbon emissions.

The 245,000sq ft complex has space for 300,000 tyres and operates 24 hours a day for six days a week, cutting the need to order direct from suppliers.

Once fully operational at the end of July, it will employ 200 staff and provide guaranteed next day delivery to Kwik-Fit’s 670 centres and 200 mobile fitting units.

Previously, direct ordering from suppliers meant deliveries could take up to three days.

The centre also operates a reverse logistics programme, where vehicles always return from deliveries fully loaded with removed tyre casings and scrap catalytic converters for recycling.

Kwik-Fit claimed this system will save up to three million mines and 3,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.

Mike Wise, head of Kwik-Fit fleet, said: “Virtually every new vehicle launched comes to the market with a new tyre size.

“Thirty years ago when Kwik-Fit was launched there were only about 25 tyre sizes, today there are about 650 and that number is increasing.

"The proliferation of tyre sizes has made it a necessity that Kwik-Fit has its own distribution operation and is not reliant on tyre manufacturers to deliver tyres to centres, which can take several days," he added.