RUMOURS are sweeping the UK fleet industry that Churchfields Vehicle Rentals is up for sale. The firm, based in Farnborough, Hampshire, runs a combination of corporately owned and franchised outlets, and earlier this year announced its intention to double its 2,000-strong fleet within a matter of months.

Industry sources suggest that a number leading rental companies are under pressure to catch up with National Car Rental, the largest player in the market following the merger of EuroDollar and Alamo, and would be interested in acquiring Churchfields. Hertz has been tipped in some quarters as a potential buyer for Churchfields, but Charles Shafer, president of Hertz Europe, said any talk of an acquisition was just 'speculation'.