F1 number plate

A new record has been set for the UK's most expensive vehicle number plate - after "F1" fetched £375,000. Essex County Council said the registration number was sold privately to automotive designer and businessman Afzal Kahn, of Kahn Design Ltd. The previous record of £331,000 was held by the "M1" plate.

The number plate, which has been for sale for three years, was first registered in 1904 when it belonged to the county surveyor of Essex. It has remained in the possession of the county council ever since. Lord Hanningfield, the current leader of the authority, said: "It will be with some sadness that we will be losing this little piece of Essex history but we have sold it at a time when such number plates are reaching very high sale prices on the market and we have reached a deal which breaks all previous records."

Mr Kahn said: "I look forward to the F1 number plate being placed on the ground-breaking Range Rover Cosworth that we will be launching in the coming weeks."