A COLLEAGUE with an alter ego as the England football manager is the proud owner of a T-reg number plate containing Ericsson's first name in the form of 5VEN.

He wondered if this more impressive older single plate was available and was delighted to find that it was -- for £46,000. He forgot that of course, but who could possibly be mad enough to fork out such a ridiculous figure for a private plate?

On the other hand it's not a bad investment for those lucky enough to own a desirable number and willing to part with it.

If only we'd had the nous to hang on to our first cars' registration plates HCW 87 and 9524 NA we'd be quids in. Then if everyone held on to everything they had there'd be no valuable antiques. It's only because most have been banished to the tip that the remaining goods are worth a few bob.