Ford has dropped the price of its Focus 1.4 CL five-door entry model by £1,000 and introduced a new 1.4-Zetec three-door for the same price - £12,000 on-the-road.

No other prices in the 38-model range are changed. The manufacturer said the move was in response to 'competitive actions', but the Consumers' Association was swift to accuse Ford of 'trying to hide behind a price cut in the guise of a realignment'.