Number plate is worth £50,000

The information was revealed in a Freedom of Information request to Peterborough City Council.

The Mayor of Peterborough received a new Jaguar XJ in January which costs £534 per month. The four-year lease taken out by the council replaced the current model of the same car which needed repairs.

A council spokeswoman said: “The EG1 number plate has been in council ownership for over 50 years and it is thought to have been gifted to the council when the EG registration was first used at the Peterborough Licensing Office.

“It has recently been valued at £50,000 by a number of registration plate companies, including www.nationalnumbers.co.uk. This, however, does not mean that there are any potential buyers currently willing to pay this amount.

“There are no current plans to sell the registration, and it remains in place on the mayor’s car. Any approaches to buy the registration in future would be considered on their merits.”

A petition to remove the car by Councillor Darren Fower currently has 303 signatures.