Sales of the Mini are continuing to soar in the UK -- two years after it first hit the showrooms.

Latest figures for the car, built in Cowley, Oxford, show that 3,058 models were sold in June -- a rise of 79 per cent on the same month last year.

In the first six months of 2003, 20,099 cars were bought, a rise of 24 per cent.

BMW spokesman Angela Stangroom said: "These figures show demand is running at a high level.

"We're seeing a very high number of orders and the factory is running at full capacity."

Since its launch in July 2001, the Mini has won a clutch of awards.

The sales figures have also been boosted by last month's introduction of the Mini One Diesel.