End of the line reached for Lada Riva

The Lada Riva has been a regular sight on British roads for more than 40 years, however that is set to become a thing of the past.

The Russian firm which manufactures the vehicle, AutoVaz, has said it is to cease production of the Lada 2107 model after selling some 18 million cars.

Despite big sales over the decades, demand has dwindled in recent years and production will be ground to a halt in a matter of days.

In the past Riva owners have had to put up with jibes from workmates over their car's reliability, with many being told to make sure they take out breakdown cover by cheeky colleagues.

The car, based on a mid-Sixties Fiat 124, hasn't been sold as new in the UK since the mid-Nineties. It originally went under the moniker of the Lada 2101 but was given the 2107 tag three decades ago.

Russians have remained faithful to the model over the years, attracted by how little it costs to run as well as the easy availability of cheap parts.

Lada continues to produce models including the Kalina, Priora and Granta.

Copyright © Press Association 2012.