PRIME Minister Tony Blair's Ford Galaxy is being converted to run on liquid petroleum gas. Environment minister Michael Meacher made the announcement, at the launch this week of the UK's largest municipal fleet of natural gas powered vehicles run by the London Borough of Merton.

Praising Merton for setting an excellent example to organisations in both the private and public sector, he said alternatively-fuelled cars would increasingly feature in the Government's own car fleet.

He said: 'Alternative fuels have a great deal to offer and somebody needs to lead the way.' Meacher added that thePM's converted Galaxy, which is one of the Government Car Service vehicles allocated to Number 10, should be operational by the end of August.