Intrepid green adventurer Ben Mayo is driving across Europe in a car powered by chip fat.

Mr Mayo, who works for alternative fuels company Regenatec, which is based in Milton Park, Didcot, is taking part in the Grease to Greece challenge, which set off from London on Saturday bound for Athens.

The aim of the challenge is to complete the entire 1,486-mile journey without using fossil fuel.

This will mean drivers having to convince owners of restaurants, takeaways and hotels to part with their waste cooking oil, which will then be used to power a diesel car.

Mr Mayo, 24, a business development manager at Regenatec, which offers special kits to convert diesel cars to run on used vegetable oil, said: "I'll be driving one of the very first cars we converted.

"It has been running on waste oil for nearly four years, so we're confident this little jaunt across Europe won't be a problem."

Mr Mayo is sharing the driving duties with student brother Tom, 21, and the duo are particularly looking forward to testing their car on the famous Nurburgring race track in Germany.

The car they are driving is an Audi 80, which has been running so far without a hitch since it was converted.

Mr Mayo's boss Mike Lawton said: "We have been using the car daily and we have struck up a very good relationship with our local fish and chip shop to the point where they call us to take away used oil.

"We are in touch with Ben as he does the drive and I know he was particularly looking forward to the Nurburgring."

Ten cars are taking part in the challenge, which is expected to take two weeks.

Each team has a translation card in various languages, which they hope will enable them to explain what they need from local restaurateurs and kebab shop owners - without causing too much embarr- assment.

The journey takes the teams from Belgium through Germany to Austria, down to Slovenia and Croatia to Albania, Macedonia and finally Greece.

While the expedition is not intended to be a race, Mr Lawton is convinced the first one with a full tank in Greece will make a break for the finishing line.

The British Ambassador in Athens will be presenting the Golden Lard Award to the first team that completes the challenge.