Environmentally friendly biodiesel became available in the region for the first time yesterday.

Margaret Fay, chairwoman of regional development agency One NorthEast filled a car with the green fuel at Eric East's Daleside garage, in Witton-le-Wear, County Durham.

It is the first of a series of garages which, linked together, will offer a "green route" through the region.

The East family has been running a garage and repair business in the dale for more than 50 years.

Biodiesel improves car efficiency as well as reducing carbon dioxide emissions, and is supplied by Petroplus, part of consortium North-East Biofuels.

Ian Waller, technical services manager at Petroplus, said: "The region really is the first to get itself geared up to benefit from the potential growth of the green fuels market.

"With support from One NorthEast, we have been able to pull together all those involved in the production and supply of biodiesel - from the seed in the ground to the fuel in the tank - to build capacity in the region and trial new initiatives."

Mr East said: "We live in a farming community and I wanted to take biodiesel as a show of support. After all, if this takes off, it will be the farmers who benefit from growing the oilseed rape and other energy crops."