Consumers are shrugging off higher petrol prices and going on a car-buying spree, it was claimed yesterday.

People plan to spend £58.5 billion on purchasing cars during the next six months - £17.46 billion more than was planned for the period February-July, a survey from Sainsbury's Bank showed.

A total of 7.3 million intend to buy a car between October and March 2006 compared with 5.4 million who had planned to make a purchase between February and July this year.

The average likely to be spent on a vehicle in the next six months is £8,014.

More than 400,000 people plan to spend more than £21,000 on their vehicle and

2.1 million intend to fork out more than £10,000.

Consumers in the Southeast - excluding Greater London - expect to spend the most in total (£15.1 billion) while people in North-east England plan to make ten-per-cent more purchases in total than in the February-July period.

The only area where people plan to spend less on cars in the next six months than they did in the February-July period is the South-west where vehicle expenditure is likely to fall one per cent.

It is predicted the least amount that will go on cars in the next six months will be spent by people in East Anglia (£1.9 billion).

West Midlanders plan to spend £6.4 billion with East Midlanders set to shell out £3.4 billion.

The bank's survey showed that 5.1 million people will be looking to buy a used car in the next six months and 2.2 million intend to purchase a new vehicle.

Sainsbury's Bank loans manager Rachel Brereton said: "Despite rising concerns on the cost of petrol and owning a car, our research suggests a strong six months ahead for the car industry."