A CAR trader has been ordered to pay a fine and court costs of more than £4,500 after being convicted by magistrates in Bury.

Volvo agents, Walker Farrimond of Manchester Road, Bury, were found guilty of applying a false trade description to a vehicle.

The court was told that an invoice given to a 70-year-old woman customer stated that the car in question required a new exhaust at a cost of £395. However, during the case, which was brought by Bury Council's trading standards department, the court was told that 15 months later the part was still serviceable and was passed as part of an MOT test.

During the hearing, Walker Farrimond claimed that the company, in line with Volvo's one stop visit policy, had advised the customer that the exhaust required replacement because, in their opinion, it would need to be changed within the following 12 months or before the next service.

However, the magistrates were told that the elderly customer had been unhappy with the advice and as a result contacted Trading Standards. They in turn obtained expert advice which contradicted the dealer's claim.

In addition to a £2,500 fine, Walker Farrimond was also ordered to pay court costs of £2,027.95.