BRITAIN'S 'Big Three' car manufacturers helped push transaction prices down by 0.69 per cent in August during the build up to the new '52' number plate, according to data released by independent price monitor, www.CarPriceCheck.com

The average price cut equates to an extra £83 saving on a £12,000 small family hatchback.

Compared to July, Ford slashed 1.69 per cent off 156 models as it sought to maintain its status as Britain's Number One motoring brand. The most popular model, the 5-door Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec, is now being sold with an average £573 saving from UK sourced suppliers.

Meanwhile, Vauxhall boosted discounts by 1.86 per cent for more than half of its 414 model range, whilst Peugeot improved deals by an average of 1.27 per cent.

The other notable mover in August was Japanese giant, Toyota. Prices fell by 1.82 per cent compared to July, with average discounts currently standing at 6.7 per cent off the manufacturers recommended retail price.

Car buyers eyeing a bargain from Europe saw prices dip by a further 0.45 per cent as suppliers delivered savings as high as 22 per cent off a BMW 320d and 25 per cent off a Ford Mondeo 2.0 Ghia.

The resulting price movement during August means the consumer can still expect an average discount of 11.2 per cent on an EU imported model compared to 5.38 per cent from a UK supplier.