Grounds maintenance firm Lyndhurst Services has ordered 23 LPG-powered Daihatsu Hijet Microvans to add to its fleet.

Luton-based Lyndhurst, Daihatsu's biggest customer, is planning to convert its entire fleet to dual-fuel versions of the Big-Deck pick-up model.

Lyndhurst operates 180 vehicles, including 152-Daihatsus, used to offer an estate management service to 3,000 properties. The Hijets are used within a 50 mile radius of each location and are on a replacement cycle of five years/60,000 miles.

Launched last year, the Big Deck costs £6,245 in 1.3-litre petrol form, with a £680 additional cost of LPG equipment taking into accounts grants from the Government-funded PowerShift programme.

Managing director David Tait said: 'It is important to be environmentally sensitive and the combination of petrol and liquefied petroleum gas is a very cost-effective way of demonstrating that commitment.'