WHAT’S in a number plate? Experts say the DN1 registration plate on the Lord Mayor of York’s limo could be worth £100,000 or more.

A businessman, John Jones, posing as the owner of the car, obtained the figure from Regtransfers.co.uk, which said it would be pleased to sell the registration on his behalf and would endeavour to return to him the sum of £100,000 net.

Mr Jones claimed that if City of York Council needed to replace the limousine – as has been suggested recently – it should sell the plate to fund the purchase.

He said: “When the council is cutting back on front-line services and losing jobs, the last thing we want is a private number plate worth upwards of £100,000. It’s obscene. A five lion crest on the side of the car is sufficient.”

But the idea met with a frosty response from York Civic Trust chairman Peter Brown, who said the retention of such a recognisable plate was “crucial”, while Lib Dem group leader Carol Runciman said: “We should not be selling valuable assets to plug a short-term gap.”

Tory group leader Ian Gillies said his personal opinion was that DN1 formed part of the city’s civic heritage, and it would be a short-term measure to sell a potentially appreciating asset.

Labour council leader James Alexander said the authority had been approached a number of times regarding the possible purchase of the plate.

He said all group leaders would make a decision on the purchase of a more economical and reliable vehicle, adding: “All options for paying for this vehicle will be presented to them.”

A row blew up in early 2000 over plans by then council leader Rod Hills to sell the plate to raise £40,000 towards a £4 million budget deficit.

The plate belonged to the first car ever to be registered in York and went back to January 1, 1904, when it was issued for a ten-horsepower Wolsley, on the day that it became law to have registration plates. “DN” was a code issued to York motorists.

It emerged then that the plate’s previous owner, Cyril Myton, who gave it to the city, had wished it to stay in York.

Who might want a DN1 registration?

Damien Nguyen, The Beautiful Country actor
Daniel Newman, Robin Hood actor
Derek Nimmo and David Niven, late actors
David N’Gog, Liverpool FC footballer.