A new ‘buy one car and get a scooter free’ offer has been introduced as a solution to fight the current economic crisis.

As the car industry continues to plummet, Workington car dealer, Percy Clark, 69, of PLC Trade Sales used the new approach as a bid to encourage car sales.

 He said: ‘The car sales business is in the doldrums. We have recognised a massive change in needs, and after a lot of consideration we have decided on giving away a free scooter with selected cars.’

According to Mr Clark, the cost of running a scooter has more financial advantages than the cost of running a car. Road tax, fuel prices, car insurance and maintenance costs for a scooter are lower than such costs for family cars.

He said that a scooter will also help save the planet. ‘If 1,000 people left their cars at home and went to work on a scooter, it would make a vast difference.’

Early this month, dealers were offering supermarket style ‘buy one get one free’ offers on the new Dodge Avenger SXT 2.4i as a desperate bid to increase car sales.

Managing director, Simon Epsom of Broadspeed.com said last month: ‘The motor trade is beyond desperate - it's in crisis.’

‘Because of the credit crunch, many people are struggling to get the finance they need to buy new cars - they simply can't borrow money anymore…Dealers are becoming more and more desperate and that's why we get deals like this,’ he added.