Belgium has recorded a sharp rise in the number of personalised car number plates. In 2011 only 2,029 such plates were issued. Last year the figure had ballooned to 3,640.

Last year private number plates raised an extra 3.37 million euros for state coffers. A personalised Belgian plate used to cost 620 euros. The new European plates - with 7 letters and numbers - has shot up to 1,000 euros!