SAINSBURY'S and British Gas have joined forces to promote liquefied petroleum gas to fleets and are claiming a UK first for bringing the fuel to a supermarket forecourt. An LPG pump has been installed on trial at Sainsbury's Beckton store in London selling AutoGas and is the first of three stores to have one fitted in the city, with a further seven planned.

The LPG is supplied by British Gas. Gerald Cavalier, director of British Gas LP Gas, said: 'We hope this trial will encourage more fleet managers to think about switching to AutoGas. If any are hesitating about making the switch because of a lack of refuelling sites, we will be happy to consider a forecourt near them.'

Jonathan Murray, transport programme manager for the Government-backed Powershift initiative which provides grants for gas conversions, said: 'Initiatives like this one really help to move the market to a sustainable take-off.'