The Volkswagen Group has suspended the sale of 4000 vehicles in the UK, as they may be equipped with the infamous defeat device used to cheat emissions tests in America.

The vehicles suspended from sale are all powered by the EA189 Euro 5 diesel engine, with the move covering vehicles from Audi, Seat, Skoda VW and its LCV arm.

While all new diesel cars have to be sold with EU 6 engines, new European rules allow car makers to sell older vehicles with engines that predate EU6 rules.

Volkswagen said the move was a temporary move and that the vehicles would be returned for sale once a fix had been identified.

Earlier this week, the group confirmed that 1.1 million vehicles in the UK – including more than half a million VWs – were affected by the scandal,

However, the company has not revealed which models are impacted yet.