THE Consumers' Association has taken its battle for cheaper cars into the heart of the enemy camp - the London Motor Show.

While manufacturers have been showing off sleek new models, the association members have manned a stand under the slogan "The Great British Car Rip-Off".

Consumers' Association chiefs are inviting people to register written protests about what they see as unfair new car prices in the UK.

The thousands of visitors to the show in Earl's Court also had the chance to send e-mails about car pricing to Trade and Industry Secretary Stephen Byers and to European Union Competition Commissioner Mario Monti.

Visitors to the stand also witnessed placards reading Help Us Stop Car Manufacturers Overcharging You.

The association's public affairs officer Nick Stace said: "The reason we took the stand was that we want to give consumers the opportunity to express their dissatisfaction with high car prices." The association released a survey showing that ordinary customers do not believe Ford and the other car manufacturers' view that car prices will not drop in the next 12 months.

Ford has promised that should it put its prices down it will reimburse people who have bought new vehicles at the old price.

The Consumers' Association survey, of 1,671 households, showed that half expect new car prices to fall in the next year and a further 24 per cent expect no change.

"The industry should take the honourable next step and cut prices and stop taking UK consumers for a ride," said the association's director Sheila McKechnie.

The association has been in the forefront of the fight to have new car sale prices lowered in the UK.

The Competition Commission is currently looking at the whole issue of how new cars are sold in Britain and at prices. The commission is due to send its report to Mr Byers in December.

Story date: Wednesday 27 October

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