End of the road for Ladas

Russian-built Lada cars have finally reached the end of the road in Britain, it was confirmed yesterday. Seventy jobs will be lost at the company's Humberside import centre after a rescue attempt failed.

No more new cars will be imported, but Lada owners, thought to number about 100,000, will still get parts and servicing through UK dealers. Often the butt of jokes, the Lada has actually proved quite popular in Britain since it went on sale in 1973.