VAUXHALL has signed one of its biggest ever gas-vehicle deal with an agreement to supply the Department of Work and Pensions with 450 Dual-fuel LPG Astra Comforts.

The deal also includes an extra 50 Astra ECO4 diesels which can achieve more than 60mpg on the combined cycle.

Vauxhall fleet director Maurice Howkins said: 'This illustrates that Vauxhall is committed to ways of reducing the impact of motor vehicles on the environment with a range of LPG cars and vans as well as our ECO4 diesel Astras.'

Vauxhall also expects to offer an LPG-converted new Vectra shortly after the car is launched at the end of May.

Last week, Transport Minister David Jamieson told Fleet News that any fleet manager who had not considered running gas-powered vehicles was 'out-of-date' and unveiled a £1million package of measures to promote the fuel.