While car sales here showed a small increase in October, dealers in Northern Ireland are hardest hit of all UK regions when it comes to new car sales.

Northern Ireland was the only region in the UK to see new car sales fall in October, according to the latest SMMT figures.

Sales were down 0.8% for the month whereas all other regions showed double digit growth.

Wales was the best performer, up 21.6% in October followed by England up 12.4% and Scotland, ahead 11.2%.

Year to date in an overall market up 5.1%, Northern Ireland sales are near static while Scotland and Wales both outperform the market, up 9.4% and 6.4% respectively England saw sales rise 4.8%.