PARAMO Tools Group is turning its back on Peugeot after three of its eight diesel 405s developed cooling problems. The Sheffield-based company is now moving its 12-strong fleet over to Renault after one of its Peugeots needed the head gasket refitting five times and another needed a new engine - at a total cost to the company of more than £10,000.

The problems started around two years ago in the K and L-registered vehicles, with between 60,000 and over 100,000 miles on the clock. Managing director Warwick Pridham said he now wanted to move the fleet away from Peugeot as soon as possible and that representations to the company's Peugeot dealer had resulted in no response from the manufacturer.

However, a Peugeot spokesman said there was no record of a complaint from Paramo to the manufacturer. He said: 'Over-heating is not a problem for a correctly-maintained Peugeot diesel. We have no record of a complaint from Paramo and are now investigating why the company has been experiencing difficulties.'