The ‘green diesel’ is being used in a sample of the council's fleet vehicles, including tipper wagons, home-to-school transport, and gritters.

The biofuel is expected to cut carbon emissions by up to 90%, according to the local authority.

Cllr Peter Thornton, the cabinet member for Highways and ICT, commented: ‘This trial will help us determine if biofuel is a viable, long-term solution to reducing carbon emissions while maintaining the high level of service our communities depend on.’

The biofuel is more expensive than regular diesel and so the local authority is also training its staff to adopt more fuel-efficient driving styles to help offset this.

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