WITH fears about petrol prices and the recent fuel crisis still fresh in people's minds, a Darlington man has found a way of cutting costs and still travelling in style.

Colin Dixon found he was doing 800 miles a week and paying almost 80p a litre driving around the North-East in his work as a computer engineer.

But the 1980 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II, his vehicle of choice, only manages 12 miles to the gallon, making it an expensive mode of transport.

But Mr Dixon, 52, halved his costs when he had the car converted to liquid petroleum gas - a cheaper and more environmentally friendly fuel. Now, he is paying about 37p a litre.

At Cascom Autogas, in Darlington, where Mr Dixon had the car converted at a cost of about £1,200, director Tim Case said he believed most drivers who cover large distances make their money back in as little as eight months.

"We've a diesel van, 2.5litre, and he's running an eight-litre V8 Rolls-Royce cheaper than we are running the diesel van," he said.

Mr Dixon said the conversion was vital for him to run the car.

He said: "I always wanted one, so my intention was to get it on gas as soon as possible. It has certainly paid for itself."

Cascom's Darlington garage is on the Cleveland Industrial Estate.