NEW car sales in Scotland reached a record high last month, with 41,367 new vehicle registrations adding to a fine year for the industry.

Experts said the figures pointed to the best September ever for new car registrations north of the border, while the UK as a whole peaked at a 10-year high for the month.

The biggest increase was in central Scotland where sales jumped 7.15 per cent from 2,519 in September 2013 to 2,699 this year, with Lothian and the Highlands closely following. Overall, Scotland experienced a 1.17 per cent increase compared to September last year.

Douglas Robertson, chief executive of the Scottish Motor Trade Association (SMTA), said: "Once again we are pleased to see an increase in September, which is one of the two new plate months in the year.

"This sales figure is a record for September; however it has not surpassed March of this year which was our best month ever.

"I think we are now starting to see a levelling off of the market and I would expect to see the remaining months of the year to show little growth.

"Nevertheless I think that 2014 will go down as one of the best years for new car registrations that Scotland has seen and SMTA members have reported that their showrooms remain busy."

A total of 425,861 new cars were sold throughout the UK last month - an increase of 5.6 per cent on the same time last year and the 31st consecutive monthly increase, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

Its chief executive Mike Hawes said: "September's strong performance underlined the continuing robustness of the UK new car market."