FLEET remarketing specialist Cars Direct has defended its name after a fly-on-the-wall television documentary featured a Surrey-based car dealer of the same name. Northamptonshire-based Cars Direct said it was concerned that Channel 4's 'The Cutting Edge' programme highlighted the practices of some car dealers and alleged that Cars Direct was selling cars which had been clocked or had been involved in major accidents.

Roger Woodward, managing director of disposals company Cars Direct said: 'While we agree that rogue car dealing should be stamped out and definitely reflects badly on our industry as a whole, we're obviously very concerned that a firm trading under our name has been used to illustrate the point.

'We would like to reassure all our customers that Cars Direct only sells vehicles from fleet operators, finance organisations, leasing companies or from the main dealer groups. Furthermore, most cars are in possession of the V5, up-to-date service history, confirmed, correct mileage and, when appropriate, a valid MoT certificate.' In the 10-year history of Cars Direct the company has been forced to defend its name in court three times.