A NETWORK of liquefied petroleum gas servicing franchises is being set up by LPG Autocentres to improve the LPG infrastructure. The LPG conversion company plans to have 25 franchises by the end of the year.

The first will be opened in Reading by the end of the month. Malcolm Noyle, sales director, announced the plan at a green fleet conference in Harrogate. He said: 'LPG servicing is an area which is missing in the UK. If you had a conversion done in Harrogate then break down in London you are stuck with no one to do the repairs. Our franchises will try to support all conversions.'

Volvo has included LPG servicing in its training manual and courses to ensure all dealers will be able to service dual-fuelled vehicles. Vauxhall is training all its fleet dealerships, which accounts for more than 100 of its 500 dealers, in servicing LPG vehicles.