Jag runs on apples

A Somerset farmer has converted his Jag so it runs on rotting apple fumes.

Henry Hobhouse, 52, who lives near Castle Cary, packs two underground tanks full of apples and collects the methane gas producted as they rot.

The 3-litre XJ6 saloon now runs on methane and costs around 40p a litre. Henry says the 145mph car gains 10% in power by running on compressed methane and still returns around 28mpg.

Mr Hobhouse said: "I'm an anorak on green issues. We've got to be taking responsibility for our own actions on a local level. "We are miles behind the rest of Europe as you can buy this sort of fuel around France, Germany and Italy."

He plans to install two small methane-making plants below ground at his farm at Hadspen.