The UK new-car market reported its fifth consecutive month of decline in August, according to figures published by the SMMT (www.smmt.co.uk).

Registrations fell by 6.4% compared with August 2016, but with more than 76,000 new cars registered, the performance still represents the third-best August figure in 10 years.

For the year to date, the market remained broadly in line with expectations (down 2.4%), with 1,640,241 new cars on British roads in the first eight months of the year.

August saw the greatest demand ever for alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs), which accounted for a 5.2% share of the market.

The demand for petrol-hybrid and pure-electric battery-powered cars increased substantially — up 74.9% and 62.5% respectively — while plug-in hybrid registrations rose 38.5%.

The demand for conventional petrol-powered cars grew by 3.8%, but diesels were down 21.3%.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “August is typically a quiet month for the new-car market, as consumers and businesses delay their purchases until the arrival of the new number plate in September.

“With the new 67-plate now available and a range of new models in showrooms, we anticipate the continuation of what are historically high levels of demand.”