DIESEL vehicle owners are being urged to fill up their engines with a more environmentally-friendly fuel.

Coun Sonia Robinson said that bio-diesel could be put into any up-to-date diesel vehicle.

She said Eco Bio Diesel Ltd, Billington Road, Burnley, was the only supplier in the North West.

However it is hoped that bio-diesel may soon be available in Pendle through a joint venture between the Burnley Eco Bio-Diesel company and the Earby Carbon Neutral Programme.

Coun Robinson added: "Using bio-diesel will really make a difference, and help to make the environment cleaner, greener and safer.

"Pendle Council wants to encourage more people to use bio-diesel. There are so many benefits, not to mention how much money you could save.

"The council will be looking at opportunities to converts a number of its vehicles to eco bio-diesel.

"I would like to see an eco bio-diesel station or pump in the Nelson area, which could serve our operational vehicles where possible"

David Barker, who runs Eco Bio Diesel Ltd, said: "Bio-diesel is very popular in countries such as Germany, which produces 30 times more bio-diesel than we do in the UK.

"Using regular diesel fuel impacts badly on the environment, but by using bio-diesel you could help towards saving the planet."

Peter Wilkinson, a local environmental campaigner who is working to establish an outlet in Earby, said: "This would help reduce Earby's carbon emissions which is a key aspect to the carbon neutral programme."