Used cooking oil has helped a Norfolk prison to cook up a fat donation to a county charity.

HMP Bure, on the site of the former RAF Coltishall, has joined forces with Norfolk-based eco-firm Living Fuels to collect used cooking oil from its kitchen and turn it into cash for Nelson's Journey.

In 2011, the prison collected enough oil to produce energy to make more than 3m cups of tea.

To mark the effort, Living Fuels suggested a charity donation which reflected the amount of oil collected from the eastern region's prisons last year. HMP Bure's chosen charity for a �628 donation was Nelson's Journey, which works with many of Norfolk's bereaved children.

Graeme Kirkup of HMP Bure said: 'We are happy to support such a charity as Nelson's Journey and all the great work they carry out with bereaved children across Norfolk.

'As a government service we take our responsibilities for protecting the environment and biodiversity seriously and Living Fuels help us in this task by turning our oil into bio-liquid to produce green electricity without the use of chemicals.'

Nicki Gibson of Nelson's Journey said: 'The amount of money that Living Fuels and HMP Bure have raised for Nelson's Journey will help the equivalent of three bereaved children to attend one of our therapeutic residential weekends.

'I am very pleased to receive this cheque on behalf of Nelson's Journey and thank Living Fuels and HMP Bure for supporting us and helping our charity to make a difference to the lives of bereaved children and families living in Norfolk.'

A used cooking oil tank is placed on site for prison kitchens to dispose of their waste oil and, once full, Living Fuels collects the oil and take it to its recovery facility, where it made into a renewable bioliquid.

The liquid is then fed through standard diesel engines and turned into electricity, which provides energy to the National Grid at times of unexpected power demand.

Living Fuels' operations director Rob Murphy said: 'We are proud to be able to help in any way and the fact that used cooking oil collected from HMP Bure allows us to help such a great charity, whilst reducing the country's dependence on fossil fuels, is doubly beneficial.'