Crewe-based Bentley Motors has increased profitability despite a very small fall in sales revenue.

For the first quarter of the year, operating profit climbed to €39 million (£30.4 million), compared with €38 million in the same period in 2007.

Net revenue fell by 4.4 per cent to €338 million, which Bentley has attributed to exchange rate effects.

Bentley also drew attention to the successful launch of the Continental GTC which has attracted considerable initial sales.

Marketing chief Stuart McCullough said that coming after a "milestone year" in 2007 these new results are not surprising.

The company surpassed the 10,000 model sales mark for the first time last year.

"However, when we take into consideration the fast start we achieved in 2007 with the Continental GTC and the nervousness that surrounds the financial markets, then Bentley sales are proving to be very resilient," he stated.

"Our overall pace remains similar to last year."

Last month, trade minister Lord Digby Jones said there is "no better place" than the northwest when it comes to manufacturing, whether it is automotive manufacturing at Bentley or engineering at Rolls Royce.