Shipment of new cars fell significantly last month as the heat wave that descended on Europe kept people away from showrooms.

Figures released yesterday by the carmaker association ACEA in Brussels show Peugeot Citroen, Fiat and Mercedes all suffering during August.

Overall sales for the first eight months of the year in Western Europe were 9.6 million, a 2.2 per cent drop from a year ago.

The weak performance was especially disappointing because a 1.2 per cent increase during June and July had led the industry to hope for an upturn.

ACEA, describing the figures as 'extraordinary', attributed them to the heat and a delay caused by people waiting to see new models at the Frankfurt car show, which began this week, before purchasing.

Observers will look keenly at the figures for the early part of this month for signs of a continuation, although most analysts agree that August's statistics were a blip.