A new business aims to take full advantage of the boom in interest in liquid petroleum gas as a cheaper alternative to petrol power in cars.

Autogas Alternative has been started up by Oxenhope man Jeff Wilkinson with his son Craig and friend Tony Dixon. All three are fully qualified mechanics, and are based at the firm's new premises on the Mandale Industrial Estate off South Street, Keighley.

Jeff said: "Lpg can typically save 40 per cent or more on fuel bills, and with the Government showing support - the price of lpg is about half the price of unleaded and grants of up to 75 per cent for conversion are available for certain vehicles through the new Powershift scheme - we are expecting it to really take off."

Currently some 36,000 lpg-powered cars are on the roads in this country, but the number is expected to treble in the next three years.

Lpg has been around for the last 20 or 30 years, but its popularity has been limited by the small number of filling stations which stock the fuel. But now there are about 900 stations around the country, including one already in Keighley and another on the way next month.

Nationally one new outlet opens every day and the latest list is available on the Internet for motorists planning a long journey.

Conversions for petrol engined cars cost from around £900 plus VAT to £2,000 plus VAT, and an economical conversion for diesel engines is expected to be available in the next 12 months. Drivers covering a higher mileage can expect to cover the cost of conversion within a year.

Jeff, who has been connected with the motor trade for 30 years, said: "We opened for business this week and the interest shown already has been tremendous. We can't believe the response."

Apart from cost savings, the use of lpg has other benefits. "Most cars seem to run better on lpg and there is less wear on the engine," said Craig. "The loss in power is very slight, usually not noticeable, but the emissions are much more environmentally friendly."