CD Bramall, which owns car dealerships across the district, has announced a 20 per cent rise in profits.

The firm, which is one of the UK's largest car and truck retailers, has seen profits soar from £11 million last year to £13.3 million this year in its interim results.

The firm has also seen its performance boosted after acquiring the Quicks Group in May for £40 million.

Tony Bramall, chairman, said: "We are confident that we have in our acquisition of Quicks obtained a business that complements the existing group as well as adding a number of franchises not already within the company, notably Jaguar, Saab and Peugeot and a substantial parts wholesaling business, Quicko.

"This will give us the ability to significantly grow the business over the short to medium term."

The firm is Britain's fourth largest motor retailer. The Bramall family's involvement in motor retailing began in Bradford in the

Initial purchases from Avis of three Rover dealerships set a pattern for ongoing growth based on turning round under-performing dealerships.

Expansion followed with the addition of Ford dealerships and the acquisitions of the Skipper Group in 1993, Petrogate in 1994 and BMG Charles Sidney in 1997.

The group now boasts 80 car and commercial dealerships from the north-east to Plymouth.

Until January of 2001 the group had been called Sanderson Bramall Motor Group to reflect it's different trading names.

The change to CD Bramall plc in January 2001 has consolidated the brand for the majority of the group's car dealerships.

Recently the company gained the Daihatsu franchise for Newcastle, Subaru in Cheltenham and Audi in Grimsby as well as acquiring three DAF sites in Tees-side.