ONE of the country's first environmentally friendly car washes is to be installed at a Blackburn garage.

Yusuf Jan-Virmani, a Blackburn with Darwen councillor, has secured planning permission for the new car wash at his service station in Furthergate, Blackburn.

At a meeting of the planning and highways committee, Coun Jan-Virmani was asked to leave while councillors discussed the application.

It was passed without comment.

After the meeting, the councillor told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph: "It is costing me £300,000 to bring here.

"It recycles 95 per cent of the water it uses and also uses a special process to make sure it doesn't freeze.

"It is one of the first of its kind in the country."