11:37am UK, Friday October 25, 2002

A police unit has been dubbed the Frying Squad after launching a crackdown on drivers who use cooking oil to power their cars.

Drivers in west Wales have been caught using used cooking oil from fish and chip shops instead of petrol.

The oil, mixed with methanol to make it power an engine, is tax free and works out less than half the price of petrol.

180 fish and chip shop chip fryer chips

Dyfed-Powys police have stopped at least three drivers using oil in the past few days.

Low cost

Each was given a £500 on-the-spot fine and warned they may face jail.

They were commiting an offence because all road users must pay fuel duty.

One driver caught told The Times: "I have halved my motoring costs since I started running my Subaru on cooking oil.

"The car runs just as well and even smells a lot better than diesel."