Falling oil prices have seen car dealers in Aberdeen stomach a loss in business of between 20% and 35%, it has been claimed.

Stuart Benzie, the owner of Westhill Cars for almost a decade, claims that the downturn currently affecting the city he lives in is worse than previous cycles with the effects of the oil price becoming noticeable as long ago as March last year.

Speaking to energyvoice.com the 53-year-old used car dealer said: “We’ve seen a drop of about 20% in sales. This is definitely the worst it has been by a long shot. Because of where we are situated we get a lot of oil-related business.”

Benzie said that many customers had reached the point of handing over a deposit on their chosen vehicle before pulling out of a purchase, with one woman having lost her job after leaving to organise finance.

He added: “There have also been people who have not been able to get the finance because they do not have the job security.”

Fellow Aberdeen trader Ian Gauld is business sales manager at Dunecht 4X4, a business owned by his mother and father.

He said the falling oil price had resulted in a similar fall in sales volumes. He said: “I would say we’ve seen a drop in sales of about 25% to 35%.

“People are scared about losing their jobs.”