Sales of the Cowley-built Mini are booming.

Latest figures for the period to the end of September show 57,315 cars were sold worldwide, a rise of 25.2 per cent on the same period in 2006.

Over the nine months, a total of 164,891 cars have been bought, a rise of 12.3 per cent.

And in the UK, 3,150 cars have been sold during October alone, a rise of more than 111 per cent, the highest percentage rise recorded by a volume manufacturer, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

Sales are expected to be boosted still further with the launch of the Clubman estate this month with the factory expected to build more than 220,000 cars by the end of the year.