A Thropton man has come up with a novel idea to combat rising fuel prices and the ever present threat of petrol shortages due to protests by farmers and hauliers. Mr. Dan Khadwitta has managed to covert his car to run on a rather unusual fuel, which he claims is cheaper, more efficient and is more environmentally friendly than petrol or diesel. Dan runs his car on mince bought from a local supermarket. “With petrol becoming so expensive, the protests and all the panic buying there was a while ago, I started looking for some- thing else to put in the car” said Mr. Khadwitta. “I knew it would have to be a substance packed with energy and you don’t get better than quality mince. I boil up a couple pounds of it in a big pan with a large onion, a carrot and a tablespoon of Comptons gravy salt, then the whole lot goes in the tank, you have to retard the ignition timing by about twelve degrees and remove the fuel filter because it gets blocked up, it takes a bit to get it started on a cold morning but I’ve been getting seventy miles to the gallon and the exhaust smells barrie”. We asked Mr. Khadwitta if he intended to patent the idea, “whey no” he said, ”its one in the eye for the oil companies, anyone is welcome to try it”.