No green grants until April

The Government body which dishes out clean-fuel grants to subsidise the cost of buying LPG and hybrid vehicles has run out of money.

The Energy Savings Trust, which manages Powershift grants available to all, has already spent its 2003-04 budget of £19 million. Unless buyers have already won a grant, they will be unable to get a subsidy before April.

Ford warned the Government that it needed long- term commitment if it was to continue offering LPG models like the Focus, which carries a £2000 premium.