ROGUE motor dealers have been issued with a warning after a garage in Darwen was punished for selling "shoddy" cars.

Rockbank Motors, which had admitted trading standards offences covering the former Eccleshill Motors, was given a six-month conditional discharge at Preston Crown Court.

And under the Proceeds of Crime, it was established the firm had benefitted to the tune of £8,373. But the amount of money available to pay was just £850 and the company was given three months to pay.

Principal dealers Mubasshar Azam and Amar Ahmed had previously been given community orders, as part of the same case, and ordered to repay nearly £90,000 between them.

Speaking after the case, County Cllr Albert Atkinson, deputy leader, said: "It's crucial to consumers that they have confidence that they will be treated fairly by car dealers when buying a used vehicle.

"This case was brought following the failure of this business to properly respond to complaints about the shoddy vehicles they had sold, and giving people who had bought them the impression that they did not have any legal rights."

The firm was based in Southgate, Preston, but latterly moved to Scotland Road, Nelson.