Car dealer John Clark Motor Group has reported a fifth year of record sales and profits.

The Scottish group increased pre-tax profits by 42% per cent to £10.5 million in the year to December 2014 from £7.4m in the preceding year helped by an increase in sales.

Turnover increased by 28%, to £604m, from £472m in 2013.

John Clark sold around 13,000 new cars in the year, up 16% year-on-year.

Used car sales volumes increased by 17% to around 10,600.

“One of the highlights has been the success on the back of our three Jaguar and Land Rover dealerships which were acquired mid-2013,” said business development director Chris Clark.

The company acquired the Frank Ogg Land Rover dealership in Elgin in August.

John Clark said it also grew turnover across its network of service workshops, accident repair centres and parts operations for the ninth consecutive year.

Employee numbers grew by 11 per cent to 1,030.

“Investment in our people will continue to be paramount and 2014 saw significant spend on staff training including our in-house management development programme,” Clark said.

> John Clark is taking part in the 'In Town Without My Car Day' in Aberdeen's city centre on Sunday.