Toyota was working to recall more than 180,000 cars in the UK today as the crisis over defective accelerator pedals rocked the company. The firm is writing to owners to arrange repairs.

The world’s biggest car maker said 180,865 vehicles might be affected by the problem in Britain.

Toyota has warned that accelerator pedals on seven models may get stuck, recalling 1.8 million cars across Europe and millions more in the US and Japan.

In the UK, seven models are affected – the iQ, Aygo, Yaris, Auris, Corolla, Avensis and Verso.

Toyota said that anyone in Britain who had suffered a problem with their accelerator pedal should contact the company.

The first batches of parts to make the repair will arrive in the UK next week, with the first repairs due to take place on February 10.

Toyota said that it had stopped delivering new vehicles of the seven affected models to British customers.

They will not be released until they have been fitted with a new part – a process that is estimated will take just 30 minutes to fix.

A Toyota UK spokesman said: “If an affected car is ready to be delivered it will stay put at the dealer so that the modified part can be installed.

“This is to prevent inconvenience to customers having to come back at a later date to get the part fitted.”

There have also been a number of complaints in the US and Japan about brake problems with Toyota’s Prius hybrid.