WORRIED members of the Skipton-based Craven Old Wheels vintage car society fear they may not be able to run their cars after leaded fuel is phased out.

The Government aims to ensure as many vehicles as possible convert to environmentally-friendly unleaded petrol, but for many classic cars this may not be possible.

From next January the Depart-ment of the Environment is cutting leaded pumps from all but a very limited number of petrol stations.

And, although major fuel companies are developing additives to make unleaded petrol compatible with older engines, some classic cars may not be suitable.

Neil Kershaw, of Craven Old Wheels, said: 'This could affect us tremendously. From next year there will be hardly any garages selling leaded fuel. It could mean that some cars will not be able to run on the road anymore. I have a 1946 MG Midget and my feeling is that a car that doesn't do huge mileage might be able to run on unleaded carefully.

'But other people, with different engines, might not want to do that and they will be left potentially unable to run their cars.'

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