MERCEDES-Benz has clinched its largest ever UK order - a £70 million deal for 3,750 Sprinter vans with rental specialist Northgate Motor Holdings. The rapidly growing subsidiary of Goode Durrant plc has agreed to buy a minimum of 1,000 vans a year over the next three years with the vehicles being operated throughout Northgate's 23-branch network over the next three years.

The Darlington-based operator has been closely associated with Ford in recent years and the company accounted for more than 7% of total Transit sales last year. The Mercedes contract will not mean a reduction in Ford's representation on the Northgate fleet.

Awarded the International Van of the Year title in 1995, the Sprinter helped Mercedes' UK van sales soar by 24% last year.