WANT to buy a motor? Only 12,000 miles on the clock, a good runner and just two previous owners - and it's not bad at putting out fires either.

A Preston dealership is offering the 1957 fire engine for just under £9,000, after it was brought in as part exchange for a new car. The appliance, pictured with sales rep Anthony Moorley, is superb for shopping runs - after all, doesn't everyone clears the path for a fire engine with lights flashing and horn blaring?

And it's a steal at just £8,895. The Riding and Co Honda Centre, in Hartington Road, Preston, now has the sparkling engine parked on its forecourt. Bemused sales manager Chris Riding said: "We'll take almost anything in part exchange and this was no exception."

"We got the engine from a local man who bought it for a bit of fun. For whatever reason, he found it a bit impractical so we took it from him."

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