A COMMITMENT by City of York Council to cut traffic pollution across the city has resulted in a £300,000 fleet deal for 24 'green' vans.

The bi-fuel Ford Transit vans can run on petrol or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and mark the council's latest initiative to ensure its vital services vehicles are environmentally friendly.

They replace a fleet of seven-year-old vehicles and will be used as transport by its commercial services' building maintenance section which provides a repair and maintenance service for the city's 9,000 council homes.

The acquisition has been assisted by a £30,000 PowerShift grant.

The new vans bring the total number of LPG-powered vehicles on the council's fleet to 60, together with three electric vehicles. It has operated bi-fuel vehicles since 1997 and since then the LPG fuel had been supplied to a tank at the council's depot provided by Jet Conoco.