A CAR dealership is moving up a gear by re-launching a car mechanics workshop in Parkstone on Monday as part of a strategic expansion.

Poole Bay Motors, founded in 2010, has bought Bensons in Penn Hill and opened it as a new workshop. It anticipates taking on more staff to cope with the increased workload.

The used car seller already provides MOTs and services, but director Lisa Colgate said they were keen to grow and identified the Bensons location, on North Lodge Road, as ideal.

“We do things fairly and are trying to be competitive with our prices at the same time as maintaining a local feel. We have one MOT tester at the moment but it is possible we will have to take on two or three more if it’s as busy as we hope it will be.”

Sales manager Paul Trapaud, who joined the business two years ago, said he was hopeful that the new workshop will be able to provide an MOT service by the end of the month.

“The location makes great sense for us. It’s an enormous working area and we are refurbishing it with all new equipment,” he said.

“It is an up and coming area, very vibrant and other new businesses have set up in the area recently too,” he added.