Used car dealers who charged customers a £395 ‘re-stocking’ fee for sub-standard part-exchanges have been ordered to repay thousands of pounds or face a jail term.

Trading Standards officials in Lancashire have taken out Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings against Mubasshar Azam and Amar Ahmed, who ran Rockbank Motors, which traded as Eccleshill Motors in Darwen and Peter Ashton Motors in Preston.

The officials found the business was promoting deals for “unroadworthy” cars that left customers frustrated, but were sold on invoices stating for spares or repair.

Earlier this year Azam and Ahmed admitted four offences of unfair commercial practice and Rockbank Motors pleaded guilty to seven similar charges.

A proceeds of crime order requires Azam to repay £79,186 within 12 weeks or face a 12-month prison sentence. Ahmed must repay £10,000 or spend six months in prison.

Both have been disqualified from acting as a company director for three years.