A CAR retailer with sites across Yorkshire has achieved record sales.

Family-owned company JCT600 boosted turnover by 1.3% to £623m in 2011 from £613m the previous year.

The firm, which has 42 dealerships across Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, and the North East, made pre tax profits of £8.5m on ordinary activities – down from £12.3m in 2010 – following significant investment as margins were squeezed in difficult trading conditions.

While UK new retail registrations fell by 14.2% and used car sales dropped by 0.4%, the Bradford-based firm bucked the trend to increase sales of new cars by 1.3% and used car sales by 4% while making major investments in the business.