A long-established Norfolk fertiliser company is planning to convert its fleet to biodiesel. Yarmouth-based J&H Bunn will run its 25 vehicles, including lorries, on converted vegetable oil.

A long-established Norfolk fertiliser company is to convert its fleet to run on biodiesel.

Yarmouth-based J&H Bunn, which was founded in 1816, will run its 25 vehicles, including lorries, on biodiesel converted from vegetable oil at its own plant.

The plant, at Seething, near Loddon, will produce 5,000 litres of the fuel a week but production could increase in future, which would allow the biodiesel to be sold commercially.

But Agritek, a subsidiary of J&H Bunn, will first need to gain planning permission for the plant, which will reuse cooking oil, such as chip fat.

The small plant is already up and running without receiving planning permission, even though John Fuller, a director of J&H Bunn and the man behind the plans, is also a district councillor for Seething and sits on the area planning committee.

He is hoping that Norfolk County Council will give the go-ahead, or the equipment will have to be removed.

Agritek is also applying for permission to store waste plastic from farms, such as empty fertiliser bags, at the site.

The company is planning to set up an innovative scheme, in partnership with Anglia Farmers, to recycle the waste by collecting it from farms and storing it at Seething before it is taken for recycling in Barnsley, South Yorkshire.

Mr Fuller said: "The fuel is mainly for use in the company's own vehicles. If, as we hope, it really takes off, we hope to sell it later on.

"If we can recycle vegetable oil that would otherwise go to waste, then we are keeping it out of landfill as well as producing something useful," Mr Fuller added.

"We want to help the environment as much as we can."

He said the plastic packaging scheme was "almost more exciting" and could involve all 900 members of Anglia Farmers.

Since last May farmers have been banned from burning plastic packaging, and disposal of plastic waste is a serious issue.

The Bunn scheme is the first in south Norfolk to collect and recycle it.

The plastic will be collected across East Anglia by the lorries delivering fertiliser, and stored on the company's site at Upgate Road.