East Anglian van hire specialist Hire-A-Lite has bought 20 new Mercedes-Benz vans.

The company, based in Dereham, Norfolk, has chosen 316 CDI chassis cab models with low-emission Euro 6 engine technology and factory-built dropside bodies. Alfa Tail Lifts, of Sawston, Cambridgeshire, fitted the vehicles' 500 kg DEL column tail-lifts.

It now runs 50 Sprinters ' all supplied by the Norwich branch of East Anglia Mercedes-Benz Dealer Orwell Truck & Van.

Hire-A-Lite rents signage and traffic lights to utilities contractors, who need to set up temporary controls when working on highways ' projects in which its customers are currently involved include the roll-out of a superfast broadband network across the south of England, from Norfolk to Cornwall.

The Sprinters are primarily used to deliver equipment to sites, either from head office or from a network of remote storage 'pods' located across the south.

'Our remote field engineers operate across the country and we rely heavily on the reliability and performance of the sprinters to maintain delivery,' said director Stewart Halsey.

'For this reason, and because contractors in our industry can face hefty fines if jobs are not completed on time, it's crucial that our vehicles do not let us down. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has proved itself in operation to be tough and dependable, while also benefiting from top-class after sales support'

Hire-A-Lite's vehicles are the subject of CharterWay contract hire agreements from Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, which include full repair and maintenance cover. They also benefit from MobiloVan support, which includes quick-response roadside assistance in the unlikely event of a breakdown ' this applies to all Mercedes-Benz vans for up to 30 years, provided they are maintained within the manufacturer's official Dealer Network.