FROM April 6, drivers will be able to spruce up their vehicles with a personalised 'C' number plate when the DVLA puts around 250,000 previously unissued C-prefix marks using the numeric range 1-20 on sale through its Select Registrations telesales service.

The C-prefix series, originally introduced in 1985, follows the success of the A and B prefix ranges which alone have sold nearly 190,000 marks, generating a total revenue of around £52 million for the Treasury. Whilst a cat lover or Jaguar enthusiast could choose C4 CAT, C4 CAB would be ideal for a taxi driver or C4 COD for a fishmonger. Clive Sinclair might like C5 CAR whilst chart-topping pop group The Corrs would be well suited to C4 COR, all for around £499.

If Blind Date's Cilla Black fancied C1 LLA however, she would find that it was sold at a DVLA Classic Collection auction for £6,750 in 1992. Similarly, Cindy Crawford or Michelle Collins (Cindy Beale in Eastenders) fans will find that C1 NDY was sold in 1991 for £17,000. Telephone the DVLA's Select Registration hotline on 0870-6000-142.

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