Illicit fuel plant raided

Two men from County Armagh have been arrested and a number of vehicles seized at a laundering plant capable of evading around £12m in taxes. HM Revenue and Customs officers and police searched industrial premises in the Newtownhamilton area on Thursday January 23 and discovered the laundering plant which could produce more than 18 million litres of illicit fuel a year.

Car registrations up

New car registrations hit a five-year high last year with 2,264,737 cars registered in 2013. They were up 10.8% on 2012, and were the best figures since pre-recession 2007, reported the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

Robbery at Torq site

Police are appealing for information after an armed robbery at a petrol station in Gateshead. A man entered the Torq service station on Sunderland Road, Felling, threatened staff with a hand gun, and made off with cash. No one was injured but the staff were left shaken.

Van used in diesel theft

More than 5,000 litres of diesel has been stolen from Coventry Hill Service Station at Hullbridge, near Rayleigh, Essex. Staff discovered the theft on Sunday morning, January 19, and found that 5,620 litres had been taken. Police said that two men parked a Luton van on the forecourt just after midnight on Saturday, and they are believed to have pumped the fuel into tanks in the vehicle over a period of about two hours.

Boost for electric cars

Government and car manufacturers have launched a joint campaign, called Go Ultra Low to promote the benefits of electric and other ultra low emission vehicles (ULEV). It is backed by BMW, Nissan, Renault, Toyota and Vauxhall.