FEWER accidents during the recent heatwave dented business for accident repair group Just Car Clinics.

The company, which is the new name for motorcycle retailer BikeNet following its acquisition of Just Car from Dixon Motors in January, said trading during July and August had been quieter than expected.

It cited safer UK roads during the dry spell for the fall, but said it was well placed to cope with its peak period for demand this winter.

The company, which operates 13 repair centres in Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, said it was also benefiting from successful trading relationships with most of the UK's leading insurance companies.

Just Car Clinics announced bottom-line profits of £216,000 during the six months to the end of June, with turnover of £11.2m.

The group said that turnover had increased 7.8 per cent compared to the same period when owned by Dixon.

Chairman David Hickeysaid the repair chain business was now fully established on a stand-alone basis.

He said: "Despite the exceptionally dry spring and summer, the board remains confident that the business will continue to perform satisfactorily."