A CAMPAIGN to increase the number of "gas guzzlers'' on the road is being stepped up by MP Gordon Prentice.

He wants to see more vehicles adapted to run on environmentally friendly fuels such as liquid petroleum gas and compressed natural gas.

Transport Minister Glenda Jackson told the Pendle MP that she anticipated a big expansion in the number of filling stations offering alternative fuels.

She said there were an estimated 174 lpg refuelling points in the UK but that was expected to increase to around 500 in the next three years.

Refuelling points for compressed natural gas were predominantly depot-based with the number of fast-fill refuelling points for fleet use expected to double in the next year.

Mr Prentice commented: "This is good news but we need to get across to car manufacturers and the motorist the benefits of switching to alternative fuels. They are cheaper for a start.''

In the last budget there was a 29 per cent reduction in fuel on gas. Mr Prentice told the Minister that would make little difference if people could not fill up their cars with "friendly fuels''.

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