Newcastle City Council has taken delivery of the first Ford Transits in its plan to phase out its diesel-powered fleet in favour of LPG.

In the largest single municipal order for LPG Transits, the council is to receive 166 bi-fuel petrol-LPG Ford Transits. Since February 2000, it has been running 51 LPG Transits.

The order is for panel vans and chassis cabs, including pick-ups and tippers, all using Ford's 2.3-litre petrol engine, which runs on petrol and LPG.

Newcastle City Councillor Linda Wright, cabinet member for environment, public health and safety, said: 'This latest handover of vehicles from Ford confirms our commitment to making Newcastle a more environmentally friendly city and a better place to live and work.'