Brits forked out 87m pounds on car numbers in 2007

London, Apr 20 : Britons sure live life 'king-size' - and that includes their cars too. According to a new report, the nation's motorists spent a record 87million pounds on personalised number plates last year.

The money went straight into Treasury coffers - and took the sum that the Government has raked in from prized registrations to almost 700 million pounds over the past decade.

The most paid to issuer the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency was 254,000 pounds at auction for 51 NGH - spelling the name Singh.

Last year's plates earned 87.4million pounds - up from 86.1million pounds in 2006 and just 36million pounds in 1997, according to figures unearthed by Lib Dem transport spokesman Norman Baker.

"The Government is happy to turn a blind eye to motorists buying personalised number plates so long as it raises money for the Treasury," The Sun quoted Baker, as saying.

"It makes me wonder if any MPs are among those snapping them up," he added.

ANI