There has been a sharp decline in UK car sales.

The sales fall had largely been expected due to the ending of the UK scrappage scheme, in which new cars were subsidized when old cars were handed in for destruction.

New car sales fell sharply in August for the second consecutive month.

The month saw 55,305 new cars registered; down 17.5% compared with August 2009.

There were about 98,000 sales in July.