The animal welfare charity, the RSPCA, has bought hundreds of new vans on an outright purchase deal from Citroen.

The charity placed the order for 910 new Berlingo and Dispatch vans, which means that through this year it will acquire160 new Berlingo 1.6HDi vans and 750 new Dispatch vans powered by the same diesel engine.

The list price for the vans (including current showroom discounts) totals over £10,000,000.

However, a spokesman for Citroen said the manufacturer would have “supplied the vehicles at a much more competitive” price.

“The RSPCA is obviously very happy dealing with us,” he said. “It has been giving us significant business for many years.”

While the manufacturer declined to give details of the discounts it offers, it is understood that such solus deals – the RSPCA is now close to 90% Citroen – could attract discounts over 40% off list.

In addition to its Citroën vans, the RSPCA also has a fleet of 130 Citroën cars, including C2, C3, C4 and C5s.

The vans will have a five-year, 100,000-mile service life with the charity.

Carroll Lamport, from the RSPCA's inspectorate futures projects, explained why it uses Citroen: "The new Berlingo and Dispatch vans are part of a move to future-proof our van operations, by raising our already high standards of animal welfare and further improve the health and safety aspects of our inspectors' work.”