Scientists have been awarded a £150,000 grant - to stop cows belching.

Sheep and cattle are responsible for a quarter of the UK's emissions of methane, one of the main gases responsible for global warming.

A single dairy cow produces an astonishing 400 litres of methane each day.

Researchers at Aberdeen's Rowett Research Institute have developed a special additive for the animals feed which cuts down dramatically on the flatulence.

A mixture of sugars and bacteria, developed at the institute, has been clinically proven to reduce methane emissions by a fifth.

The scientists have now been awarded the cash by development agency Scottish Enterprise to develop the idea commercially.

The grant will fund two years of research into ways of making the additive economically viable and testing it at farms.

Dr Jamie Newbold, who is leading the research, said: "What we are hoping is that farmers will start using the additives as they will be both commercially viable and good for the environment.

"Although there are other greenhouse gases, methane is a significant one, so whatever we can do to cut this will help us meet requirements to reduce emissions."

Dr Newbold said farmers would be keen to use it because their animals would process food more efficiently and use less feed.

"Cows can lose around ten per cent of the energy in their diet by belching out methane. This loss is bad for the cow and bad for the environment," said Dr Newbold.