A Hong Kong tycoon has placed the biggest ever order for Rolls-Royce cars after agreeing to buy 30 Phantoms for his luxury Macau hotel-resort.

Stephen Hung and Rolls-Royce executives signed the deal yesterday at the company's Goodwood factory near Chichester.

The Extended Wheelbase Phantoms will be used to chauffeur guests at Mr Hung's "ultra-luxury" Louis XIII hotel, which is scheduled to open in early 2016.

Mr Hung's purchase more than doubles the previous record of 14 Phantoms bought by Hong Kong's Peninsula Hotel in 2006.

Rolls-Royce said two of the cars will be the most expensive Phantoms ever commissioned but it did not disclose prices or the order's total value.

With a list price of £370,000, the deal is estimated to be worth a minimum £11 million and could be much higher as many buyers order custom features that increase prices significantly.

It is the second major business announcement by the luxury car makers this week following Monday's announcement of a new technology centre near Bognor which will create 200 jobs.