SPANISH car maker SEAT is planning to help bolster Britain's economy by not raising prices this year. The firm - part of the Volkswagen group - will soon be announcing that it is to hold the prices it fixed last Christmas through to the early part of 1998.

'Every increase only goes to fuel inflation and motorists must feel somewhat disappointed that eight major companies have put up their prices so far this year. We want to break the spiral by pledging to contain our costs,' said a spokesman.

After sales rose by 35% to 15,000 last year, SEAT is hoping its freeze will encourage further growth and help it achieve 20,000 registrations this year.