DESPITE a crisis in the motor industry, a North-East car dealership reported that last year was one of its best.

Hodgson, which has dealerships in Gateshead and Silverlink, North Tyneside, saw sales up across all four brands it sells and was ranked seventh in the UK for capital growth for the year.

The company, which sells Mazda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki and Toyota vehicles, has thrived over the past year – which saw many car dealerships and manufacturers crippled by the dip in sales – with 17 jobs created, taking its workforce to 150.

There were no enforced redundancies, no reduced hours, no reduced salaries and increased investment in training.

Steve Hodgson, managing director and owner, said: “My unequivocal conviction is our future is in our hands irrespective of manufacturers’ actions, the weak economy or indeed any other outside influences.”

■ New car sales accelerated again last month – rising 26.4 per cent on the February 2009 total, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders announced yesterday.

But although this month’s total of new registrations reached 68,686, this was 1.3 per cent below the February 2008 figure and 12.2 per cent below the average for the month of February from 1999 to 2009.

The society said the Government’s car scrappage scheme had accounted for 19.6 per cent of this month’s new car market.