PRACTICAL Car & Van Rental is the first daily rental company to convert an entire fleet to run on gas in the wake of continuing Government support for alternative fuels. Following the Budget, in which gaseous fuels received further incentives, Practical's Cromer branch in Norfolk has converted its eight-vehicle fleet to run on liquefied petroleum gas.

Announcing the decision, Practical managing director Bolton Agnew urged car-makers and fuel retailers to facilitate the switch to gas. 'At only 39p a litre, the price is certainly right for driving on LPG but it looks like we'll have to wait at least a year for the manufacturers and filling stations to catch up,' said Agnew.

'The problems seem to be mirroring the introduction of catalytic converters and unleaded petrol - even though we've known about the benefits of LPG for some time. It is common to hire cars in Holland which run on LPG.'