BRITAIN'S largest contract hire company, Lex Vehicle Leasing, continues to expand with the announcement of a major deal with national washroom and mat services specialist Personnel Hygiene Services.

Caerphilly-based PHS, which has a fleet of 465 vehicles operating throughout the UK from 23 depots, has awarded Lex the contract to replace its 320 light commercials and 145 cars on contract hire with maintenance after going out to tender with 11 separate leasing companies. The vehicles were previously purchased outright.

Around 95% of the new commercials will be diesel Fords, a mix of Transit vans and chassis cabs which service its washroom contracts. The rest are Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis cabs which are being used by the PHS specialist mats division.