HiQ launches Magnum Moment!

After thousands of British Touring Car Championship fans made HiQ’s Champagne Moment awards a resounding success, a new interactive accolade has been launched to crown a remarkable season.

HiQ is unveiling its first ever Magnum Moment award for 2009, where fans of Britain’s premier motor racing series are invited to vote for their favourite champagne moment from 2009.

So whether it was Paul O’ Neill’s podium finish at Snetterton, or Jason Plato’s stunning drive at Knockhill, supporters are invited to log onto http://www.hiqonline.co.uk/ and vote for the best performance.

The winning champagne moment for Brands Hatch will also be available to vote for as an overall Magnum Moment contender.

Fans can vote for:
Rob Collard’s back of the grid to finish 4th at Oulton Park
Stephen Jelley’s three podium placings at Croft
Paul O’Neill’s emotional third place at Snetterton
Jason Plato’s drive from the back of the grid to second at Knockhill
Mat Jackson’s two first places and second at Silverstone
Stephen Jelley’s maiden wins at Rockingham
The winning champagne moment from Brands Hatch



The man that receives the most plaudits overall will be crowned with HiQ’s Magnum Moment award and presented with a special award at The TOCA Night of Champions on November 7.

One lucky fan who has logged his or her details onto the website will win two tickets to the evening, will present the prize to the driver and complimentary race tickets will also be provided for the first race of 2010, along with a grid walk of the track before one of the races.

HiQ’s BTCC marketing manager Geraldine McGovern said: “Our champagne moment awards have been extremely successful and we thought an overall Magnum Moment would be the perfect way to end the season.

“It has been another tremendous year both on and off the track for HiQ, and we would like to give fans another opportunity to win a great prize with us.”

For your nearest HiQ centre click on www.hiqonline.co.uk

FULL SPEED AHEAD FOR LADIES MOTORING MASTERCLASS

A Kings Lynn car retailer is on track to host a car safety workshop designed exclusively for women.

The Women’s Workshop will take place at the Bergen Way Volkswagen retailer on Tuesday 17th November at 7pm.

Ladies are asked to reserve their place at the event, which will cover essential car maintenance and repairs plus safety advice provided by Norfolk police.

As there are limited spaces ladies are required to contact Maggie or Cate at Kings Lynn Volkswagen on 01553 778 800 to secure their place at the event.

In addition to the workshops the retailer will transform its showroom into a shopping haven giving ladies the chance to purchase scrumptious
homemade chocolates from Cooks of Swanton, get Christmas gift ideas from the new Jamie Oliver collection and purchase greeting cards from Phoenix cards.

Beauty experts from West Newton House will be on hand to offer treatment advice plus there will be a chance to win a flower arrangement supplied by Kings Lynn Flower Club.

The exclusive event, to launch the arrival of the new Volkswagen Polo, is aimed at enhancing women’s motoring skills and help keep them safe on the road when driving alone as brand manager Martin Bennett explains.

“Our technicians will deliver a range of workshops including how to change a tyre, top up engine oil and replace windscreen wipers. Norfolk Police will provide advice on some simple safety precautions to take when driving or parking and steps to take in the event of a breakdown or accident.”

“As there are limited places we are asking ladies to reserve their place as soon as possible. Men are more than welcome to join in the evening’s fun. There will be a computer simulation racing game and the new Polo to keep them entertained,” added Martin.

For further information on the new Volkswagen Polo call Kings Lynn Volkswagen on 01553 778 800.

For more information contact Sue Foster on 01902 714957 or email or suefoster@connect-group.com

SALES TEAM HAS A MAKEOVER IN IPSWICH

Ipswich Volkswagen retailer, Wolsey, has boosted its senior management team with the appointment of a new sales manager.

David Cooper has been promoted at the Sproughton Road site after three years as business manager.

The 26-year-old began his automotive career in 2001 after pursuing his childhood ambition to sell cars. David has swiftly progressed up the ladder starting as a sales executive and has spent the last five years as a business manager for both the Inchcape Group and more recently Wolsey Volkswagen.

David said: “I’m delighted to be taking on this role and look forward to growing the business.

“I aim to help bring a breath of fresh air to the Wolsey sales team and continue to develop the high level of customer service that people have come to expect.

“I’m grateful to Wolsey Volkswagen for giving me this opportunity to develop my career.”

Tim Hargraves, brand manager for Wolsey Volkswagen, said: “David is very ambitious and has already demonstrated a superb track record during his time at Wolsey.

“We believe he will make a significant impact on the team and customers during this challenging time in the automotive industry.”

Picture caption: l-r Wolsey Volkswagen’s brand manager, Tim Hargraves welcomes new sales manager, David Cooper.

For more information contact Sue Foster on 01902 714 957 or suefoster@connect-group.com

Higgs helps TSI move in the right direction

Law firm Higgs & Sons has helped one of the region’s leading freight businesses expand its operation even further.

The corporate team at Higgs & Sons, led by Nick Taylor, partner and head of department, has advised TS International Freight Forwarders Limited, the Telford-based international logistics company, to expand with a new depot in Burntwood, Staffordshire.

The new transport depot will provide TSI with the ability to reach a larger customer base both nationally and internationally. TSI managing director, Tim Pryce explains: “This is a really positive step for our business. We have worked with Nick and his team at Higgs since our management buyout in April 2008 and it’s great to work with them again on such a positive move.”
Nick Taylor said of the latest acquisition: “Higgs is delighted to continue to advise TSI and this new operations base for the business will help increase its market share and continue the development of the business.”

Higgs & Sons’ corporate team, under the leadership of Nick Taylor, continues to go from strength to strength. The department now boasts 10 solicitors.

TSI has its headquarters in Telford and employs 64 people.

LPG Boost for High Performance Vehicles

There is a commonly held view that running a car on LPG can reduce acceleration and power. But try telling that to one of the UK’s quickest drivers, British Touring Car Championship star Tom Onslow-Cole, who, with the help of Calor has set the record straight once and for all.

Leading LPG supplier Calor has always acknowledged the benefits of Autogas LPG for high performance cars, but now the theory has really been put to the test. Working together with Approved Installers Prins, Calor has converted a 2 litre Honda Civic Type R to run on Autogas with fantastic results.

Tom Onslow-Cole, who is often seen on the BTCC podium, took the Type R for a spin on the race track, with amazing results.

Tom said: “I was taken aback by the performance of the converted Type R. It handled superbly as you’d expect, but the response of the engine increased.

“The overall performance of the car was better and more powerful, making it a far better track car than I could have imagined. I was really impressed with the car, which was extremely quick around the track. ”

Not only has the performance of the Honda improved, it has been consistently delivering combined consumption figures of 28 mpg when running on LPG. Compared to the manufacturer’s quoted combined figure of 31mpg for its unmodified version, and given that LPG is currently retailing at under half the price of petrol*, the converted Honda has delivered a saving of over 42 per cent, without any noticeable changes to its performance.

Click here to see a video of Calor's LPG Honda in action trackside

INSPIRATIONAL NEW DESIGNS FROM AMTICO

Amtico International reveals its darker side and vintage rustic charm with the arrival of this season’s latest flooring designs

Two new twists on the dark spectrum see the arrival of Linear Metallic and Amtico Dark Slate while a fashion for salvage and recycling welcomes Amtico Treated Woods to the collection.

Linear Metallic’s four night shades enhanced with gold, copper and bronze strands, add a multifaceted shimmer to flooring with a hint of industrialised glamour. Saturated with threads of metal its streaked finish catches the eye creating depth and movement more commonly associated to textile.

Amtico Dark Slate is available in two ultra-slick finishes and has all the interest of the original, but can be used anywhere without fear of it cracking. It is available in XL tile formats, allowing fabulous effects that can’t easily be achieved in the natural material due to its weight.

Amtico Treated Woods brings together four pale neutrals, which look as if they’ve been washed, scrubbed and limed by hand. This instantly recreates an aged and rustic look that can be found in a weathered beach hut or converted barn.

Staying at the forefront of interior design trends is of paramount importance for Amtico’s success as UK Marketing Manager, Sian Lewis, explains.

She said: “Our design team continually observes the changing trends in interior designs which inspires and influences our collection.”

Further Information

The Linear Metallic range includes Linear Metallic Jet, Steel, Spice and Jewel.

The Dark Slate range includes Slate Noire and Graphite Slate.

The Treated Wood range includes Lime Wash Wood, White Wash Wood, Limed Grey Wood and Natural Limed Wood.

Issued on behalf of Amtico International by Connect PR

For further information, please contact Sue Foster on 01902 714957 or email suefoster@connect-group.com.

Online business offline with legal issues

Research carried out by legal firm Higgs & Sons has uncovered some shocking figures about the failings of some online companies to comply with legal issues.

Amy Shakespeare, a solicitor for Higgs & Sons said: “We undertook some research as part of an online seminar held in Wolverhampton and reviewed all attendees’ websites. Less than half of the websites we reviewed contained all of the statutory information required, only 38% of companies had privacy policies displayed on their site and only 46% had notified the Information Commissioners Office that they process personal information under the Data Protection Act.”

An EU investigation found similar results after examining 369 websites selling electronic equipment in 28 European countries and found that 55% of them appeared to break consumer protection laws. It found that the biggest failure was related to consumers’ right to return goods purchased over the internet within a seven day ‘cooling off period’.

It is estimated that by 2011, 32 million UK consumers will be shopping online and the value of goods will be £52 billion (Forrester, UK eCommerce forecast 2006-2011). With theses figures in mind, Amy stresses the importance for businesses with an online presence to be even more aware of the laws that apply when trading on the internet.

She said: “Online businesses must comply with national implementations of the EU’s directives including the Distance Selling Directive, Unfair Commercial Practices Directive and E-Commerce Directive. In particular websites should display a certain level of information about the company, clear information about the product and price and consumers rights. Being compliant however need not cost a fortune, for example a privacy policy can be drafted relatively cost effectively and will assist a website owner in complying with the information requirements in the Data Protection Act, Companies Act and in some cases Distance Selling legislation. In comparison, the consequences for online traders with non-compliant websites can be severe. Both civil and criminal penalties can be imposed on individuals as well as the company.”

For a legal review of your website, please call Amy Shakespeare at Higgs & Sons on 01384 342 100.

JETSTREAM ROLLERBALL HAS THE X FACTOR

Mitsubishi Pencil Co. has shown it has the X Factor when it comes to writing instruments thanks to the results generated from its latest marketing activity.

Visiting universities and shopping centres throughout the autumn, the firm’s promotion targeted pen savvy consumers to sample the super smooth Jetstream rollerball.

Using brand ambassadors and a robot character costume, students and shoppers were invited to blind test a leading competitor product against the ever popular Jetstream. Carried out on unique mobile demonstration kits, feedback from consumers showed an overwhelming preference for the smudge-free and light writing qualities of the Jetstream.

Even X Factor finalists Miss Frank gave the Jetstream their seal of approval when taking time out from rehearsals to sample the pen at London’s Brent Cross shopping centre.

Stuart Barker, marketing manager at Mitsubishi Pencil Co. said: “We wanted to engage with our target market during our busiest sales period. This level of activity proved hugely successful, which has not only improved consumer awareness of the Jetstream, but has also increased traffic to our newly launched micro site www.unisuperpens.co.uk.”

To find out more about Mitsubishi Pencil Co. UK visit www.uniball.co.uk, www.unisuperpens.co.uk or view their latest tweets on Twitter by following @uniball_uk.

ENDS

Note to editors:

The universities visited included the University of East Anglia, the University of Nottingham and Aston University during their respective Freshers’ Fairs held in September.

Activity at London’s Brent Cross shopping centre, Westfield Derby and Westfield Merry Hill coincided with National Identity Fraud Prevention Week (12th-18th Oct).

Issued on behalf of Mitsubishi Pencil Co. by Connect PR

For further information, please contact: Lee Southen on 01902 714957 or email lee@connect-group.com

Plato quaffing with HiQ!

Jason Plato might have missed out on the HiQ British Touring Car Championship by a whisker, but he can at least add another champagne moment to his collection.

The BTCC legend, who racked up an amazing hat-trick of wins at the last round of action at Brands Hatch, pipped newly crowned champion Colin Turkington to the bubbly, with Tom Chilton coming third.

The three-horse-race was the closest HiQ Champagne Moment award ever, with Plato polling 33 per cent of the votes, Turkington 31 per cent and Chilton 28 per cent.

It is the second time Plato has scooped the bubbly, after he won HiQ’s prize from the weekend of racing at Knockhill in September, where he somehow finished second in race three, despite starting at the back of the grid.

BTCC fan Paul Leabourne, of Bournemouth, was picked at random to win a bottle of champagne and he will now win a pair of tickets to the first round of BTCC action at Thruxton.

Paul said: “Brands Hatch was a phenomenal weekend. I had a great time along with thousands of other fans, and it was a tough one to vote on.

“Colin Turkington’s driving was exquisite to win the driver’s title, but I had to go for Jason. Three wins were just incredible and if anyone was going to catch Colin, he was the man.”

HiQ’s BTCC marketing manager Geraldine McGovern said: “What way to bring the curtain down on our Champagne Moment Awards. The racing at Brands was just spectacular and it is great that we can recognise Jason for his amazing efforts.”

SEARCHING FOR THE BEST DESK DRAWER MESS

A leading stationery brand is urging home and office workers to get in touch if their top desk drawer looks more like a war zone than a picture of perfection.

uni-ball, the makers of revolutionary writing instruments, are calling upon untidy workers to take action by sending in photographs of their organised mess.

From those entries that are shortlisted, the worst offender will be treated to a ‘Kim and Aggie’ style makeover and will win a drawer full of the latest office stationery.

Stuart Barker, marketing manager at uni-ball said: “Scraps of food, old cables and the odd gadget or two make for a messy top drawer. We want to lend a hand to office workers and encourage them to take pride in their desk drawer. By asking workers to photograph their mess we are hoping this will change habits and de-clutter the workplace.”

Each office worker who is brave enough to send in a photograph to deskdrawer@connect-group.com will receive a Jetstream pen. This super smooth writing instrument is smudge-free, making it ideal for those who want to add clarity to their handwriting.

For further information on uni-ball visit www.uniball.co.uk, www.unisuperpens.co.uk or view their latest tweets on Twitter by following @uniball_uk.

ENDS

Issued on behalf of uni-ball by Connect PR

For further information, please contact: Lee Southen on 01902 714957 or email lee@connect-group.com.

TOP MARKS FOR UNI-BALL THANKS TO BEST SELLING ROLLERBALL

The latest audited figures released by GFK Marketing Services reveal that uni-ball has topped the hit list by volume in September 2009*.

Leading the way with the ever popular Signo Gelstick, the firm also held nine out of the top 20 positions during the key Back to School sales period.

Stuart Barker, Marketing Manager at Mitsubishi Pencil Co. said, “We are delighted to once again lead the GFK hit list by volume. The uni-ball Signo Gelstick has underlined its strong performance in this sector by outselling the second placed rollerball by nearly 100,000 units.

“We will build upon this positive platform in 2010 with several new product launches supported by strong marketing and point of sale material. uni-ball continues to provide the market with writing instruments of the highest quality.”

To find out more about Mitsubishi Pencil Co. UK visit www.uniball.co.uk.

*Hit list excludes own-label products for September 2009

ENDS

Issued on behalf of Mitsubishi Pencil Co. by Connect PR

For further information, please contact: Lee Southen on 01902 714957 or email lee@connect-group.com

AMTICO EASYGROUT SEALS A FLOORING STATEMENT

Amtico International has taken further steps in creating a more natural and authentic finish to its stone collections with the advent of EasyGrout.

The new grouting solution delivers a genuine tiled effect to vinyl, which is both appealing and practical.

The ready mixed mortar like consistency is suitable for use with the Amtico, Spacia and Spacia Contour stone effect ranges.

This range of flooring provides the perfect replica of a natural stone tile when fitted in conjunction with EasyGrout. It retains its durable and practical finish with the addition of anti-mould and water resistant properties.

Sian Lewis, UK Marketing Manager for Amtico International, said: “EasyGrout is a welcomed addition to our range providing a realistic finish. It is simple to use and has a ten minute working time.

”The grout is available in three tones, natural, stone and chalk which each complement Amtico’s stone collections.”

To find out more about EasyGrout visit www.amtico.com

ENDS

Note to editors:

The approximate coverage using 5mm tile spacers:

12"x 12" (305mm x 305mm) tiles – 5 - 7.5 sq mtrs per litre
16"x 16" (405mm x 405mm) tiles – 5 - 7.5 sq mtrs per litre (Spacia Contour only)
18"x 18" (457mm x 457mm) tiles – 7.5 - 10 sq mtrs per litre

Issued on behalf of Amtico International by Connect PR

For further information, please contact Lee Southen on 01902 714957 or email

lee@connect-group.com

NEW SEASON OF ART AT STATELY HOME'S GALLERY

Weston Park’s Granary Gallery is beginning a series of monthly changing art exhibitions where the works will be available for sale.

The stately home's rolling exhibitions will make the most of the spectacular space within the newly restored 1767 Granary building. The white walled space below the grandeur of the open oak timbered roof will offer a changing perspective for the contemporary art world.

The Gallery, on the Staffordshire Shropshire border, has the highest possible specifications in terms of environmental control, which means the items from Weston’s reserve collection, as well as items from private collections, can be displayed.

The contemporary art exhibitions will provide a vivid contrast with Weston Park’s heritage providing a dynamic visual feast for visitors. Each exhibition will showcase a different artist, handpicked by Weston Park. Their work will, at times, be strikingly different in approach but overall quality serves as the hallmark for each exhibition.

Gareth Williams, curator to the Weston Park Foundation comments: “Weston Park’s own collection offers some of the very finest examples of old masters’ works, from Van Dyck to Gainsborough and we see the Gallery as offering an opportunity to showcase contemporary artists which offer a relevance of art in every day life.”

Throughout October Fabienne Russell is displaying her work. Fabienne’s art reflects her cosmopolitan, occasionally nomadic existence. Born in North Africa, she has lived and worked in countries as varied as Morocco, the Congo and France.

Focusing on purely abstract compositions Fabienne comments: “I try to perpetuate the tradition of painterly painting, taking inspiration from artists such as Velasquez, who had a very intense relationship with paint, and contemporary artist Callum Innes, whose process involves the removal as well as the addition of paint and a unique way of using colour which influences my work tremendously.”

From Sunday 1st November, it’s the turn of Alan Albert Smith, whose works include a great sense of variety of composition often with a figurative content giving a great sense of meaning. Alan’s painting involves a great clarity of colour, occasionally with amusing incident.

In December Felicity Kershaw’s works will be on display at the Gallery. Felicity focuses on visual stimuli in the world around her and presently paints the domestic world, ranging from still lives to portraiture and conversation pieces.
Felicity comments: “My aim is to communicate the idea that ordinary everyday things are worth looking at and have their own beauty.”

The Gallery is open daily from 11am – 4pm and is free to enter.

For further information please contact Sue Foster at Connect PR on 01902 714957 or email suefoster@connect-group.com

YOUNGSTER’S ART TAKES TO THE ROAD

A primary school youngster who has won a design and paint competition will see his colourful design used as the basis for the new paint scheme of Sinclair Volkswagen Cardiff’s courtesy shuttle bus.

Five years old, David Keane from Sully, Cardiff entered the competition which marked the opening of the Tyndall Street Volkswagen retailer, which was acquired by the Sinclair Group, securing over 100 jobs.

David’s colourful and imaginative design will be hard to miss as the courtesy shuttle bus travels around the city centre each day.

The winning design also benefited David’s school, Sully Primary School which received £100.

Commenting on the transformed bus, brand manager, Richard Seaward, said: “We felt our existing shuttle bus needed a revamp and David’s design has certainty helped us to create a striking upgrade.

“The shuttle bus is used daily to transport customers in and out of the city centre whilst their cars are being serviced or having an MOT. We feel confident that David’s creation will bring a smile to motorists’ faces.”

The Sinclair Group is an independently owned company which was established in 1945 and has become one of the largest and most successful motor groups across the south and west of Wales. The Group supplies new and approved used Volkswagen, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Škoda, smart and Commercial Vehicles in addition to its car hire, servicing and body shop facilities.

The recent acquisition of the Cardiff and Newport Volkswagen sites in November 2008 has seen the company grow its retailers to 19 and increase its employees to 600.

Picture caption: David Keane (aged six) shows off his winning design accompanied by Acting Head Teacher, Sully Primary School, Kathryn Hart and Sinclair Volkswagen Brand manager, Richard Seaward.

Released on behalf of Sinclair Group by Connect PR. For more information contact Sue Foster on 01902 714957 or suefoster@connect-group.com

SPACIA ACCESS DELIVERS THE PERFECT SOLUTION FOR EXPLORE- AT-BRISTOL

Leading flooring company Amtico International has delivered a high quality flooring solution for an exciting new animation exhibition at Explore-At-Bristol.

Animate It! is an interactive exhibition developed in collaboration with Aardman Animations, creators of the smash-hit Wallace and Gromit films. The exhibition is located within Explore-At-Bristol, one of the UK's most exciting hands-on science centres.

Emma Beinke, project coordinator said: “The flooring specified for this project needed to match the height of the existing carpet on the exhibition floor so that no trip hazards were present. The floor also needed to be flexible for usage over the existing floating floor.

“Spacia Access was the perfect option as the square tiles allowed us the flexibility to use the same flooring throughout. Long planks of flooring would not have worked in this scenario as we often need to remove just one square of flooring for access and doing this with boards would mean taking up larger areas each time. Traditional Oak was chosen as it complements the other materials used in the exhibition.”

“Model making with modeling clay is one of the main activities taking place where the Amtico flooring is fitted. As you can imagine this is quite messy so being able to maintain and clean the flooring easily was a deciding factor in our material choice.”

“We are thrilled with the finished result and were particularly impressed with the speed of installation, with the flooring taking just two days to complete. Amtico allows easy access to our visitors and has a natural look that works well.”

Just under 200sq meters of Amtico’s Spacia Access flooring in Traditional Oak has been used for this exhibition. With visitors given the opportunity to create their own animations, it was essential that the flooring specified was very durable to withstand the heavy footfall. With many families and children becoming animators for the day, improved slip-resistance and a tough urethane coating guarantees that the Amtico flooring delivers to the highest standards.

Sian Lewis, UK Marketing Manager at Amtico International, said: “We are delighted to be involved in this exciting exhibition. Spacia Access offers complete versatility for commercial applications, whether semi-permanent or permanent floor installations are required. It’s particularly well suited for projects such as this where there is raised access flooring.”

Amtico International has 40 years’ experience in designing, engineering and manufacturing some of the most innovative and resilient flooring products in the world. The company delivers flooring solutions to industry and business as well as domestic environments.

Issued on behalf of Amtico International by Connect PR.
For further information, please contact Lizzie Furnell or Sue Foster on 01902 714957 or email lizzie@connect-group.com / suefoster@connect-group.com

CALLING ALL PETER PARKERS

One of Britain’s best loved art brands has issued a plea to find anyone in the UK called Peter Parker, in a novel bid to launch an iconic Spider-Man painting product.

Reeves has joined forces with Marvel to spin the legendary Super Hero onto new Painting by Numbers art sets, in a massive coup for the craft industry.

The all action hero will be emblazoned on thousands of Painting by Numbers boards and Reeves now wants to find anyone by the name of Peter Parker to paint the first kits produced.

The painting sets feature two iconic Spider-Man designs, complete with New York skyline, and Reeves has made an appeal to find a member of the public who shares the same name as the boy behind the spider.

Reeves Painting by Numbers product manager Graham Curtis said: “As most of us know, it was Peter Parker who was bitten by a radioactive spider before gaining spider-like powers such as super-strength and the ability to climb walls.

“While we don’t expect such virtues to be bestowed on anyone living by the name of Peter Parker, we thought it would be nice to see if we can find one to help us launch our new product!”

Simon Philips, President, Worldwide Consumer Products for Marvel Entertainment, said: “We are excited about our partnership with Reeves and the new Spider-Man Painting by Numbers kits.

“And the idea of finding a real life Peter Parker is a great way of launching the painting sets, which are the first of their kind and expected to be best sellers.”

Anyone in the UK called Peter Parker should email spiderman@connect-group.com to claim their Spider-Man Painting by Numbers gift set and leave their address details.

ENDS

For more information about this press release and all other Reeves news, please contact lee@connect-group.com, ben@connect-group.com or call Lee and Ben on 01902 714957.

MALTA HAILS THE LONDON TAXI

LTI Vehicles has secured further international orders for its London Taxi with the appointment of Muscats Motors Ltd as the official importer of the world famous London Taxi.

The announcement was made following a successful demonstration of the TX4 vehicle in Malta earlier this month. With delivery set for the end of November 2009, drivers and passengers in Malta and Gozo will soon be part of a taxi system that is hailed throughout the world.

“Maltese dealer Muscats Motors Ltd quickly realised the benefits of a tailor made taxi service that sets them apart from the competition,” said Matthew Cheyne, International Market Development Director for LTI Vehicles. “There has been a fantastic reaction to our taxi during the launch. The Maltese say that the service brings them up to date with their neighbouring countries and makes them feel as if their country is coming of age.”

The London Taxi Service is an added value service aimed at giving passengers a better quality of service based on the unique London Taxi.

ENDS

News release issued on behalf of LTI Vehicles by Connect PR.

For further information call Lee Southen on +44 (0)1902 714957 or email lee@connect-group.com.

A few tweets defeat super-injunction

The super-injunction has received a blow this week following a spontaneous online campaign on the social networking site Twitter, which, overnight, spread and disclosed information that a newspaper had been barred by the High Court from publishing.

Julia Lowe, head of Higgs & Sons’ dispute resolution team, says the furore from the case will bring even more questions about super-injunctions.

She said: “It all started with Labour MP Paul Farrelly tabling a parliamentary question about the oil traders, Trafigura, in relation to press freedom.

“Trafigura had obtained a super-injunction preventing the Guardian and other media outlets from publishing the contents of a report relating to the alleged dumping of toxic waste in the Ivory Coast. Mr Farrelly tabled a question relating to press freedom. The Guardian decided to seek to vary the injunction to allow it to report on the parliamentary question. Trafigura was set to oppose this on the basis that the terms of the super-injunction would be breached which would amount to contempt of court.”

Overnight on Monday 12th October 2009, numerous users of the social networking site Twitter and other such sites, posted details of the question which had been tabled by Mr. Farrelly, and by the morning of 13th October 2009, the full text of his question had been published on two prominent internet blogs, as well as in the magazine ‘Private Eye’.

Shortly before 2.00 p.m. on 13th October 2009, lawyers Carter-Ruck therefore withdrew its opposition to The Guardian’s reporting of the parliamentary question.

Julia says that prior to this case, the use of the super-injunction had been growing. “The super-injunction is relatively new but its use by large corporations or individuals wishing to keep secret the fact that they had even been to court to obtain injunctive relief has been growing. News organisations may be prevented from revealing the identities of the parties involved in the legal dispute, or even from reporting the fact that reporting restrictions have been imposed.

“In the Trafigura case, the question tabled by Mr. Farrelly, was found on parliament's web site and was printed on the House of Commons’ order paper and available online within minutes. This demonstrates the futility of attempts to keep such information from public view.”

Trafigura’s legal action has now backfired. The allegations that it wished to keep out of the media spotlight are now more high profile than they would have ever been and a debate is now raging about the future of the super-injunction. The Justice Secretary, Jack Straw, is now reported to be looking closely at this particular breed of injunction.

Micky Doyle is a Fab Four footballer!

It’s official. Leeds United midfield star Michael Doyle is the most popular footballer wearing the number four shirt in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

The Johnstone’s Paint Trophy has celebrated the fourth year of its sponsorship with the Football League by calling on supporters to vote for their favourite players who are currently wearing the number four jersey for their clubs.

Thousands of Leeds United fans flocked to the trophy’s official website to vote for their summer loan signing from Coventry - making him the official Johnstone’s Paint Trophy’s Fab Four Footballer.

The midfield general was easily the most popular left back amongst Football League supporters, polling around 1,500 votes, and he will receive a magnum of champagne on behalf of Johnstone’s on Thursday October 29, at Leeds United’s training ground.

Lifelong Leeds fan Dani Bambrook of Leeds, was picked at random as the winning fan to present the bubbly, and she will also receive a replica Leeds United shirt, signed by Michael Doyle.

Johnstone’s Paint Trophy sponsorship manager Teresa Hardwick said that Doyle’s popularity came as no surprise, after watching his performances for Leeds during the start of the season, as well as some impressive displays for parent club Coventry City last season.

She said: “We launched this online initiative because we wanted to commemorate our fourth year of sponsorship in a novel way.

“We thought it would be nice to see which one was the most popular amongst Johnstone’s Paint Trophy fans, and Michael was a resounding winner, beating other talented number four players including Nicky Bailey at Charlton and Adam Bolder at Millwall.

“It came as no surprise to see Michael getting so many of the votes. He seems to be something of a cult hero amongst fans and has played a big part in their success in getting to the top of League One.

“And the fact he is a loan player speaks volumes about his popularity around Elland Road. We wish Michael and Leeds all the best for the rest of the season.”

Leeds United and Michael Doyle will continue their quest for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy at Elland Road against Grimsby Town on Tuesday November 10th. Tune into Sky Sports at 7.45pm for live coverage of the game.

For the latest news about the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy click on http://www.johnstonespainttrophy.com/

HiQ enjoy a perfectly pink day

HiQ has brought the HiQ British Touring Car Championship season to a close in style, after helping to raise a staggering £10,000 for charity in just one day.

Staff of the nationwide fast fit network, run by local franchisee Broadway Tyres, looked pretty in pink at Brands Hatch when they helped generate the amazing sum of money for Breast Cancer Care.

Thousands of pink HiQ Breast Cancer Care caps were handed out to fans of the BTCC in return for donations, while collection buckets were filled throughout the day.

Donations on Sunday October 4 exceeded £7,000, Broadway Tyres made a personal donation of £1,500, and a group of BTCC marshals also showed their caring, generous sides, raising £1,000 on their own.

HiQ topped up the final figure of £9,500 with a final investment of £500 to take the grand total to a staggering £10,000.

The efforts of HiQ led to a scene of pink across the famous circuit, with the grandstands being filled with an eye catching splash of colour.

Broadway Tyres’ managing director Jonathan West said the day of fundraising, coupled with a chance to see the exciting climax of the HiQ BTCC, was perfect for everyone connected with Broadway.

He said: “The chance to go to Brands Hatch on Sunday was just fantastic, on so many different levels.

“The action on the track was something that we had never seen before, and absoloutely scintillating for us to see. Meanwhile, we raised a phenomenal amount of cash for Breast Cancer Care, that means so much to us all.

“We think the charity fits perfectly with what we are trying to achieve at HiQ. Not only is it close to all of our hearts, but no fast fit company reaches into the family market to help remove the intimidation associated with the fast fit sector.”

Broadway Tyres operates 10 HiQ centres across the south of England. For your nearest HiQ centre click on www.hiqonline.co.uk

Autogas Wins 'Green' Award

Green motoring has been given a boost this week as the UK’s leading liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supplier for the automotive market, Autogas, was awarded the national title of Alternative Fuel Supplier of the Year.

GreenFleet presented the accolade to highlight the company’s delivery and commitment to providing a reliable and readily available alternative fuel for the nation’s motorists. Vehicles running on LPG produce far fewer harmful emissions that contribute to environmental and health problems than traditional road fuels and LPG vehicles produce 17% less carbon dioxide than petrol and 2% less than diesel.

In addition to its environmental benefits, LPG can also cut the cost of motoring as LPG currently retails at around half the price of petrol and diesel* and offers up to 100 per cent exemption from the London Congestion Charge.

Autogas Limited’s National Marketing Coordinator, Emma Bartle, says the case for LPG is continually gaining momentum with the ongoing trend for greener products coupled with the financial benefits for drivers.

Emma explains: “We have seen more and more people switching to LPG mainly due to the desire to be more environmentally aware and, of course, the cost savings LPG can offer.

“Converting a vehicle to run on LPG can be done quickly and easily by an approved converter and costs around £1,800. Based on current fuel prices and an annual mileage of 20,000 miles it would take around 22 months to recoup this initial cost**.”

In 2008, 19 new companies joined the LPGA ‘approved installers’ scheme meaning a total of 192 approved installers are now available for drivers to modify their vehicles to run on LPG. In addition to this increase in approved installers, motorists now have over 1,400 LPG stations across the UK to fuel over 160,000 vehicles now being powered by LPG.

Emma adds: “LPG is by far the most widely available alternative fuel available in the UK, so drivers will not be far from an LPG station. Our handy fuel locator booklets and downloadable files for SatNavs ensure motorists can easily find their nearest LPG refueling station. What’s more motorists have the added flexibility and peace of mind knowing that their vehicle is ‘dual fuel’ meaning it can also run on petrol.”

For further information on fuel supplies and bulk tank installation, contact Autogas Limited on 01527 507800 or visit www.autogas.ltd.uk.

Ends

Notes to editors
Calor and Autogas advise that conversions should always be carried out by an LPGA Approved Installer and, as there are around 200 outlets currently registered in the UK, it is easy to find your nearest specialist – a full list of Approved Installers can be found at www.autogas.ltd.uk/lpg-conversion/lpg-vehicle-conversion.htm.

* Petrol, diesel and LPG prices taken from www.petrolprices.com (08.10.09)


Unleaded:
Avg. 105.1p
Min. 101.8p
Max. 117.9p
Diesel:
Avg. 106.1p
Min. 101.9p
Max. 118.9p
LPG:
Avg. 55.2p
Min. 47.9p
Max. 60.9

** Calculation assumes conversion fee of £1,800 including VAT with an annual mileage of 20,000 miles. Payback period equates to 22.03 months based on official combined consumption figures published on www.renault.co.uk for 2.0 16V Laguna Sport Tourer assuming a 20% reduction for LPG. National average fuel prices taken from www.fleetnews.co.uk. In order to calculate potential fuel savings, Autogas has made a savings calculator available on its web site: www.autogas.ltd.uk.

NEW POLO TAKES CENTRE STAGE

Film fans across the country are being asked to vote on their favourite classic and be able to see it on the big screen at an exclusive one-off showing.

Volkswagen is hosting the Timeless Polo Film Festival to launch the latest model of its own timeless classic – the new Polo.

Voting for the most loved film takes place throughout October with the winning film being shown on the big screen across the country from October 29th.

Each voter will receive two free tickets to see the national winning film. Everyone attending the screening will be given a goody bag of free gifts and be in with a chance to win a four night trip to New York, living like a film star.

The lucky winner and a friend will enjoy a helicopter tour of the city, tickets to Mamma Mia on Broadway, a Sex in the City tour, and cosmopolitans at a famous New York bar plus a £500 shopping spree.

Volkswagen retailer communication manager, Bhavisha Chotai, said: “We’re delighted to be hosting such an exciting event and eagerly anticipate the nations favourite timeless film.”

New Polo, the fifth generation of the supermini, has a stylish new look and is the most technically advanced version in its 34 year history, but it remains true to the brand's core values of safety, reliability, quality and value for money.

Despite the increase in size, the Polo is lighter than the model it replaces leading to improved fuel economy and emissions.

The new Polo is available to order from all Volkswagen retailers now with prices starting at £10,035.

Bhavisha continued: “New Polo completes a family makeover for Volkswagen’s most popular models, joining its iconic siblings Golf and Scirocco with a fresh, new look.”

Votes can be registered at www.polofilmfestival.co.uk

Issued on behalf of Volkswagen by Connect PR.
For more information contact ue Foster or Richard Knowles on 01902 714 957 or email richard@connect-group.com / suefoster@connect-group.com

WHO WILL WIN HIQ'S FINAL CHAMPAGNE MOMENT?

As the dust settles on an enthralling British Touring Car Championship season, just one question remains…Who will win HiQ’s final champagne moment?

HiQ is throwing the voting out to the fans once again, to conclude a stunning year of racing which saw Colin Turkington crowned as champion.

So will the talented Northern Ireland star win his first HiQ Champagne Moment for his nerveless display at Brands Hatch?

Or will Jason Plato’s hat-trick of wins crown him with the award for the second time this season?

And there is also another strong contender in the shape of Tom Chilton, who ended his season in style with Team Aon with a pole position and two podium finishes.

All spectators are invited to log onto HiQ’s official website, http://www.hiqonline.co.uk/ to vote for their star performer.

The man that receives the most plaudits from the round of racing will be crowned with HiQ’s Champagne Moment award and presented with a bottle of bubbly before the first race of the 2010 season.

HiQ’s marketing manager Geraldine McGovern said: “What a season! Brands Hatch was a phenomenal success on so many levels. With more than 30,000 fans cheering on the drivers, it will be great to see who they vote for in our final champagne moment of 2009.”

AMTICO SUPPORTS ARTIST EXHIBITION

Flooring specialist Amtico International has assisted an up and coming artist to stage her first solo exhibition.

Sculptor, Freya Gabie, specialises in installation work by re-modeling functional materials into different forms.

The collaboration between artist and the Coventry-based business saw a manipulation of the top layer of Amtico’s vinyl flooring. The urethane film was installed in its traditional state, and then using wires attached to the floor and ceiling; it was gently raised lifting the layers to create a rugged mountain range.

The installation artist secured a six week residency at the independent Meantime Space Gallery in Cheltenham, after her work was recognized in a new art competition ‘the open west’ which attracted over 380 entrants. Freya was amongst 40 artists selected from the competition which directly lead to her solo show.

Commenting on the exhibition, titled ‘Desirelines’, Freya said: “It was an amazing opportunity to stage my own exhibition. I’m very grateful to Amtico for being so accommodating in helping me fulfill my inspiration. The quality and structure of their product was perfect to illustrate by vision.

“Through the methods of casting, carving, stacking and sometimes breaking, a subtle bullying of a material will reveal a new quality. My intentions are to dissipate an object away from its former state giving it a new identity.”

Sian Lewis, UK marketing manager for Amtico International, added: “As a market leader we are continually creating new flooring designs that are inspirational, distinctive and practical for both consumers and commercial customers.

“We fully support Freya and other emerging artists, as it is their imagination and unique ideas that help to shape future designs. We would like to wish Freya a long and successful career.”

Issued on behalf of Amtico International by Connect PR

For further information, please contact Sue Foster on 01902 714957 or email suefoster@connect-group.com