County's bio fuel plan killed off

The plant was to have been built at Henstridge in Somerset

A plan to pioneer bio fuels in the West Country - with the area opening the UK's first plant - has failed.

A spokesman for Wessex Grain, based in Templecombe, said the company had been unable to raise the £53m needed for the massive project.

It said the reason was bio fuels had been called into doubt as the right solution for future fuel needs.

Somerset County Council had backed the scheme and already runs a fleet of 10 vehicles on bio diesel.

Wessex Grain was also concerned that in future farmers could stop growing fuel crops, as demand for food around the world increases.

It now seems the planned £53m bio-fuels plant for Henstridge is almost certain not to be constructed.