A BUSINESSMAN who made a New Year's resolution to live a greener lifestyle has traded in his two family cars for one that runs on rapeseed oil.

John Laker, 60, of Spinfield Lane West, Marlow, sold his one-litre Suzuki Swift and his partner's 1.2-litre Nissan Micra and bought a second hand Citroen Zara which they could run on bio-fuel.

Mr Laker, a self-employed business consultant and former Green Party parliamentary candidate, said it was the first step in a series of environmentally friendly changes he would be making this year.

He said he felt it was the right time to cut down on his carbon emissions because he has recently started working from home. Previously he commuted to Abingdon every day.

He now cycles and walks whenever he can and occasionally shares the Citroen Zara with his partner, who uses the car to drive to work in Henley.

Mr Laker already has solar panels on the roof to supply 50 per cent of the household's hot water needs and uses ecological washing and laundry powder so they can reuse their household water in the garden.

He is also planning to install a wind turbine in the near future.

Mr Laker said: "I just wanted to do my bit. I am not suggesting I am a saint or anything like that."

He was spurred on to convert to rapeseed oil fuel after watching a programme on BBC2 called Going Green.

Mr Laker said: "I have absolutely no regrets. When you are driving you can't feel any difference using bio-fuel. It is slightly cheaper too and works out at approximately 78p per litre. But that's just a bonus."

Mr Laker has 200 litres of rapeseed oil delivered to his home at a time and siphons it into a five-litre petrol can from which he can easily pour it into his car.

He said: "Its part of my green philosophy to try to buy things locally to reduce carbon emissions during transit.

"I bought the Citroen from Platts and my bicycle from Saddle Safari, both in Marlow, and I'm looking forward to the day when I can get rapeseed oil locally too."