More than 27,000 Volkswagen Group drivers have signed up to a lawsuit filed against the group over the ‘Dieselgate’ emissions scandal, with around 500 more owners a day joining the group action.

Around 500 owners of VW Group vehicles are signing up to the group action lawsuit a day.

Announced earlier this month, the group action lawsuit is being led by law firm Harcus Sinclair as it looks to secure compensation for owners affected by the scandal after US judges last year approved a £12bn settlement to compensate drivers there.

The legal action alleges that the cars should not have been sold with ‘defeat devices’ fitted as under normal conditions they would not have been certified for sale. It adds that the cars were sold for more than they were worth as they were not roadworthy.

The case was heard on Monday in the High Court but because of a flurry of solicitors wanting to become involved in the action over the last few days, the application for the group litigation order (GLO) has been adjourned. As a result, Harcus Sinclair will liaise with the other law firms and look at possibly having a next hearing around June latest with a GLO possibly to take place in October.

The firm added that it is also looking at taking additional action in other jurisdictions and reported a large number of enquiries in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Damon Parker, head of litigation at Harcus Sinclair, said: “As well as seeking compensation, our clients feel that joining this action and seeking redress through the courts will expose any alleged deceptions perpetrated. It will also help to put a stop to corporations behaving in this way and causing untold damage to people’s health and the environment in the process.”

Volkswagen was contacted for comment.