Pensioner Marion Riley was all in a flap about mudflaps on her new Nissan Micra which she had just bought from Nissan (York) at Clifton Moor.

The car didn't have any and she wanted some. Because of that, she says, she is now unnecessarily £100 out of pocket.

Mrs Riley, of Hull Road, York, has complained to City of York Council trading standards officers that when she asked for mudflaps she was told by a salesman that they were only available for her model in a "protection pack" - which included carpets and headlamp protectors. Price: £100.

She says: "I bought the protection pack only because I wanted mudflaps on the vehicle. I told the salesman that I had always furnished my previous Nissans with quality carpet offcuts and in 40 years of driving I had never had a road accident, let alone smashed headlamps that needed to be protected."

But having made the transaction she discovered later that mudflaps should anyway have been part of the specification of the model she had bought.

She said: "I asked the dealership sales manager for my money back in view of the fact that I should have had mudflaps on my car within the price I had already paid.

"It meant that I had unnecessarily bought a protection pack through being misled. He claimed that he had his shareholders to think of, but finally agreed on what in his view was a compromise, namely £50.

"I reluctantly agreed but when after 10 days no cheque or apology arrived I let them know that I now withdraw my acceptance and will take action."

Asked about Mrs Riley's allegations, Steve Carey, sales manager for Nissan (York) said: "This is a matter between myself and Mrs Riley."

But, when pressed, he added: "Mrs Riley has had the benefit of the protection pack. I find it strange that she believes that this was the only way to buy her mudflaps when we display signs for the prices of individual items like mudflaps.

"We have investigated her complaint with the salesman concerned. If I knew that someone misrepresented the case for a sale they would no longer be here. The salesman involved is still with us.

"The offer of £50 more than covered the cost of mudflaps alone. I am disappointed that she has decided to go back on her acceptance of our offer."

Stuart Benson, principal trading standards officer for the City of York Council said: "We are looking into the matter."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.