DEPUTY Prime Minister John Prescott is expected to swap his official 4.0-litre petrol Jaguar for an LPG version. Jaguar is said to be putting the finishing touches to an LPG V8 Sovereign for Prescott, who has come under fire in recent weeks for his use of such a large-engined car.

The replacement of Prescott's car with an LPG model would form part of the Government Car and Despatch Agency's move to convert all 176 ministerial and government cars to run on gas over the next six years.

A spokesman for the Government Car Service said: 'Mr Prescott still has his usual car at the moment, but we are looking at options for new cars for all ministers. Any move will be part and parcel of the plan that over the next six years the fleet will be recomposed of LPG cars.'